Adelaide make it two from two

Adelaide United became the first Australian side to defeat Japanese powerhouse Gamba Osaka with a 2-0 win in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

A first-half brace from an unlikely source, defender Daniel Mullen, ensured Adelaide broke Gamba’s long standing record against Australian opposition and created history.

Mullen put Adelaide ahead on 17 minutes with a close-range header after his first rocketed off the bar.

The 22-year-old then capped off a classy performance at full-back with another close finish four minutes later.

The win lifts Adelaide into top spot in Group E on six points, three clear of Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor, who earned their first points of the campaign with a 2-0 away victory over South Korean side Pohang Steelers, who also have three points.

Lutfulla Turayev and Kamoliddin Murzoev were on target for the visitors at Steelyard Stadium.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Brisbane Roar defended stoically to earn their first ever AFC Champions League point with a 1-1 draw away to Beijing Guoan.

Beijing’s Piao Cheng stormed forward to score at the near post of Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos on eight minutes.

But an historic equaliser from Mitch Nichols 12 minutes later – the Roar’s first goal in the competition – levelled the affair and Brisbane held on to remain in touch with Group F leaders Tokyo and Ulsan (both on four points).

Earlier, South Korean side Ulsan held Tokyo to a 2-2 draw away at the National Olympic Stadium in Japan.

The hosts led through a Yuhei Tokunaga goal on 37 minutes, before a flurry of goals in the final 10 minutes saw the game sway back and forth.

Seung-Yong Kim equalised in the 81st minute, but Tokyo quickly reinstated their lead via Yohei Kajiyama two minutes later.

Not to be denied, Ulsan stole a point in the 89th minute when Brazilian substitute Maranhao equalised once more to leave the two sides level at the top of the group.

United Arab Emirates club Bani Yas came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw away to Uzbek outfit Pakhtakor in Group B.

Al-Ittihad, however, climbed above the UAE side to take the lead in the group when they beat Al Arabi 3-1 away in Doha, with Naif Hazazi scoring a brace for the victors.

Al Jazira went top of Group A after they held off a fast-finishing Al Rayyan 3-2.

The UAE club led 3-0 and were cruising, but their Qatari opponents made it a one-goal game with 10 minutes remaining before the hosts in Abu Dhabi clinched a crucial three points.

In the other Group A clash, Esteghlal were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Nasaf – the latter’s first point in the group.

Uzbeks Esteghlal are unbeaten in the tournament on four points after two games.