Akira Nishino’s side followed in the footsteps of Urawa Reds to become the second Japanese side to win the AFC Champions League as they saw off a spirited Adelaide who ultimately came up short.

With Gamba leading 3-0 after the first leg, Lucas put the result beyond doubt with goals in the fourth and 15th minutes to hand Adelaide their first defeat at home in the competition this season while recording the biggest margin of victory in a final in the tournament’s history.

Roared on by the vast majority of the sold-out crowd, a pumped up Adelaide burst off the starting line and, for three minutes at least, looked set to test the J.League side.

But all the early industry was for nothing as Gamba dampened down the atmosphere of defiance within the Hindmarsh Stadium and all but secured the title with a goal in the fourth minute.

Lucas pushed the ball over the line after 17-year-old goalkeeper Mark Birighitti had parried Hayato Sasaki’s shot from the edge of the area, leaving the Brazilian with the simplest of tap-ins.

The goal effectively killed the game, although Kristian Sarkies tried to raise Adelaide’s spirits in the 12th minute only to skew his shot well wide of the target.

Three minutes later, Lucas grabbed his second to hammer the final nail into Adelaide’s title hopes as the former FC Tokyo striker took one touch to control Takahiro Futagawa’s through ball before poking perfectly beyond Birighitti.

Cristiano thought he had reduced the deficit in the 26th minute when he headed the ball over Yosuke Fujigaya and into the net, only for the assistant referee to rule the effort out for offside.

With Adelaide deflated and dejected, Gamba were in complete control as the half was completed but the home side’s pride and determination returned with the start of the second period.

Travis Dodd almost provided the key to unlock the Japanese defence in the 51st minute when he scampered down the left wing before sending in a delightful low cross that had too much pace for the oncoming Sarkies.

In the 66th minute Cristiano again went close, only this time he was unable to make the most of a handling error by Fujigaya and the Gamba defence were in attendance to clear.

But Gamba never looked seriously troubled and in the end Nishino’s team were deserving of the win and of their place at the FIFA World Club Cup, where they will participate as Asia’s representatives.