Japan's Gamba Osaka swept past Adelaide United of Australia 3-0 with a commanding display in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final on Wednesday. Brazilian striker Lucas put the home side in front in the 37th minute, springing the offside trap before finding the net with a deflected shot.
Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo doubled Gamba's lead two minutes before halftime, latching on to a clever pass from Lucas to score with a clinical left-foot drive. Robert Cornthwaite squandered a fine chance to snatch a precious away goal for the visitors before midfielder Michihiro Yasuda volleyed a third for Gamba in the 68th minute. "They didn't put us under as much pressure as we had expected," Gamba manager Akira Nishino told reporters.
"The job's not finished yet though. We expect a tough return game. Favourites Gamba, who had knocked out champions Urawa Reds 4-2 on aggregate in an all-Japanese semi-final, dominated the match and could have won by a much wider margin.
The second leg takes place on November 12. Gamba's win puts them in touching distance of their first Asian Champions League title and a place in December's lucrative FIFA Club World Cup. Adelaide have already qualified for the tournament as the highest-placed non-Japanese side in the ACL competition. European champions Manchester United will begin as favourites to win the Club World Cup in Japan.