Mullen-inspired Adelaide down Gamba

Adelaide United went top of Group E in the AFC Champions League with a 2-0 win at home to Gamba Osaka today. The Reds belied their poor Australian A-League form to follow up their opening 2-1 away win over Bunyodkor in Tashkent and leave Gamba, who beat Adelaide in the 2008 final, rooted to the bottom of the pool. Defender Daniel Mullen scored both goals in a seven-minute spell to put United in charge of the game after 24 minutes and inflict Gamba's first defeat in Australia. Gamba, under new coach Jose Carlos Serrao, are winless so far this season and languish 16th in the J.League after back-to-back defeats either side of a 3-0 loss to Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League. Mullen headed home in the 18th minute after hitting the bar moments earlier and pounced again when striker Bruce Djite flicked a close-range header at goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya. Fujigaya's instinctive parry fell at Mullen's feet and he gratefully tapped the ball into the net. Adelaide managed to protect their lead for the remainder of the match as Gamba failed to crack the resolute home defence. Gamba beat Adelaide 5-0 on aggregate to win the 2008 final over two legs.