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Defender Daniel Mullen scored twice as Adelaide United felled Japanese giants Gamba Osaka 2-0 in Tuesday night’s Asian Champions League match in Adelaide.
Mullen’s brace came in a seven minute burst as Adelaide banked their second win in two starts in their Asian campaign.
After an upset away triumph over Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor a fortnight ago, Mullen’s double gifted Adelaide a 2-0 lead within 24 minutes at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The defender struck in the 17th minute with a header, having struck the cross bar seconds earlier.
A searching Dario Vidosic free kick found Mullen in the penalty box and his initial header hit the bar and floated to Nigel Boogard, who headed back across the goal face.
Mullen was waiting and with his second header beat a despairing dive from Gamba goalkeeper Fujigaya Yosuke.
The Reds defender was again perfectly placed in the 24th minute to score an opportunistic second.
Mullen capitalised when Adelaide striker Bruce Djite flicked a close-range header at Fujigaya, whose instinctive parry fell at Mullen’s feet and he tapped in from a metre out.
The goals were just reward for the home side’s early dominance but the Japanese countered twice, only to be denied by superb saves by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic.
The Reds captain twice blocked searing shots from Gamba’s Korean dangerman Lee Seung Yeoul, on both occasions flinging a glove to tip over the bar to the delight of the 5,112-strong crowd.
Adelaide managed to protect their lead for the remainder of the match as the visitors failed to crack the resolute defence of their hosts.
Osaka’s Brazilian forward Paulinho had their best chance on goal, firing a left footer just wide early in a fruitless second half for the Japanese powerhouses, who have now lost their opening two ACL matches.
Adelaide United’s acting coach Luciano Trani said the two ACL wins gave the Reds a chance to salvage something from a season in which they’re anchored in ninth on the domestic ladder.
“Tonight was a chance for the players to make up for a poor season in the A-League,” Trani said.
“And we have just seen that if the discipline is there, any outcome can be achieved.”
Gamba Osaka coach Jose Serrao said his side was making too many defensive lapses.
“It’s a very bad result,” he said.
“We are still making mistakes and we are losing to ourselves.”
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