Gamba Osaka are the new kings of Asia. It was always going to be difficult for Adelaide United to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg in Japan, and after the Reds conceded two early goals, the tie was all but over.

Although Aurelio Vidmar’s team put up a spirited fight in the second period, Gamba never looked in danger of losing the game, and maintained their fresh, attacking brand of football right up to the final whistle. As continental champions, they have now secured a place at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008, alongside their already-qualified opponents.

"As a coach I’m very satisfied, it’s something I have aimed for throughout the season," said Gamba’s Akira Nishino. "The standard has been very high and I’m really very happy that we have won.

"For Gamba and myself this is the second time we have played in the Asian Champions League, and we were always thinking about doing better than before. But we honestly never thought about this result until we got through to the final."

They found space, their movement off the ball was unbelievable and they’re easily the best team we’ve played in this competition

Adelaide United’s Travis Dodd hails the performance of his side’s conquerors, Gamba Osaka.

United captain Travis Dodd paid homage to Gamba’s success. "It seemed like they had 15 players out there," he gasped."They found space, their movement off the ball was unbelievable and they’re easily the best team we’ve played in this competition."

Adelaide, without key defensive lynchpins Angelo Costanzo and Eugene Galekovic, had no option but to attack from the outset, and that they did, throwing men forward in search of an early goal. But it was at the other end that the scoring was opened on five minutes, when United’s stand-in keeper Mark Birighitti fumbled a shot from Hayato Sasaki into the path of Gamba’s Brazilian striker Lucas Severino, who pounced on the loose ball and put the Japanese visitors 4-0 ahead on aggregate.

Things got even worse for Adelaide ten minutes later, when a sublime pass from Takahiro Futagawa put Lucas in the clear once more. The Brazilian deftly evaded the advancing Birighitti and slotted home the second, to effectively put an end to Adelaide’s Champions League dreams.

Cristiano looked to have given Adelaide the sniff of a comeback when he headed in a cross from the left on 27 minutes, but the linesman’s flag denied the Brazilian. Gamba, meanwhile, had a number of chances to extend their lead before the break, but could not apply the finishing touch to any of their many sweeping moves.

In the second half, the home side rallied, driven on by their captain Travis Dodd, and came close to scoring on a number of occasions. But with Sota Nakazawa defiant at the back, Adelaide failed to breach the Gamba rearguard. The final whistle sounded to wild celebrations from the boys in blue.

Football Federation Australia CEO, Ben Buckley, nevertheless praised the Reds’ achievement. "Even though Adelaide were beaten by Gamba Osaka, it’s a fantastic achievement for a club from the A-League to get this far in just the second year of participating in the competition," he said.

The two sides will now prepare to compete against the world’s elite next month. Gamba’s formidable performance will have certainly given Japan 2008 favourites Liga de Quito and Manchester United food for thought.

* 2009 O-League champions Waitakere United will face the AFC Champions League runners-up Adelaide United at the Tokyo National Stadium on Thursday 11 November 2008 kick-off 19h45 (local time).

The last time a New Zealand and Australian club met in a continental championship was at the 2005 OFC Club Championship held in Tahiti when NZFC champions Auckland City FC lost to Hyundai A-League champions Sydney FC by 3-2 at Stade Pater, Papeete.

Alvin Cecolli opened the scoring for Sydney FC on 32 minutes before Paul Seaman levelled the match five minutes later. Andrew Packer put the Australians ahead on 47 minutes but Jonathan Smith equalised for Auckland City FC with 12 minutes left.

City FC hearts were broken when an injury time Steve Corica free-kick left goalkeeper Ross Nicholson well beaten.

OFC club champions at the FIFA Club World Cup

2000 FIFA Club World Championship

South Melbourne (AUS)

vs. Vasco de Gama (BRA) lost 0-2

vs. Necaxa (MEX) lost 1-3

vs. Manchester United (ENG) lost 0-2

2005 FIFA Club World Championship

Sydney FC (AUS)

vs. Al-Ahly (EGY) won 2-1

vs. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) lost 0-1

FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2006

Auckland City FC (NZL)

vs. Al-Ahly (EGY) lost 0-2

vs. Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) lost 0-3

FIFA Club World Cup – Japan 2007

Waitakere United (NZL)

vs. Sepahan (IRN) lost 1-3

Story and image courtesy www.fifa.com and Foto-Net