Gamba win thriller, Kashima rampant

Gamba Osaka came out on top in a seven-goal epic while J-League champions Kashima Antlers strolled to another huge rout in the AFC Champions League.

Elsewhere, Adelaide United's campaign was set back by a 0-0 home draw with Changchun Yatai and Uzbekistan's Kuruvchi beat last year's runners-up Sepahan 2-0.

Gamba, held by Chonburi last week, got their bid back on track with a pulsating 4-3 win away to South Korea's Chunnam Dragons.

The J-Leaguers were two down within 29 minutes but fought back through Takahiro Futagawa, Ryuji Bando and Michihiro Yasuda.

Kim Tae-Su slotted a penalty to put the hosts level before Bando turned in Yasuda's cross for the winner 14 minutes from time. 

Kashima strolled to a 6-0 rout of Vietnam's Nam Dinh as they continued their free-scoring start to the campaign.

Midfielder Masashi Motoyama and Brazilian striker Marquinhos both scored twice as Kashima, 9-0 winners last week, stretched their goals tally to 15 and maintained top spot in Group F.

Kashima coach Oswaldo Oliveira already had one eye on the next match against Beijing Guoan, the Antlers' closest rivals.

"It was a good game, but our goal is not only to win this game, but also to advance to the knockout round, so we are going to brace ourselves up for our next game," said the Brazilian.

"We will take on the Chinese champions vying for a place in the next round. Hopefully, we can keep up our momentum to win."

Guoan kept pace with Kashima with a home win against Krung Thai Bank, but they left it late against the visitors who were Kashima's nine-goal victims last week.

Krung Thai Bank equalised 2-2 with 63 minutes gone before Du Wenhui and Julian Martinez both netted their second goals of the night to finish 4-2.

In Australia, Adelaide United were held 0-0 at home by Chinese title-holders Changchun as their ambitions took a knock.

Adelaide were looking to build on last week's 2-0 win over Pohang Steelers, but could not break through although Brazilian midfielder Diego rattled the crossbar in the second half.

"If we want to progress to the next stage we will need to beat Adelaide when we play them at home," said Changchun coach Gao Hongbo.

Substitute Stephane Baga came on to score two late goals as Thai Premier League champions Chonburi FC picked up their first win with a stunning 3-1 victory over A-League side Melbourne Victory.

The Cameroon forward came on with 20 minutes remaining at Supachalasai National Stadium and rifled home a spectacular shot from 30 metres in the 79th minute to restore Chonburi's lead after Daniel Allsopp had cancelled out Fabiano's first-half opener.

The Thais were reduced to ten men with five minutes remaining when Arthit Suntornphit was dismissed after receiving his second caution but Baga settled the matter deep into stoppage time when he drove into the box before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos.

Brazilian striker Magno Alves scored for the second time in as many matches to hand Al Ittihad Jeddah a 1-0 win over Al Ittihad Aleppo and maintain the Saudi side's perfect start to Group A.

The former Gamba Osaka forward hit the only goal of the game 11 minutes from time when a mistake by Omar Hemidi handed possession to Alhassane Keita, and his pass was converted when Alves scored into the empty net.

Iran legend Ali Daei's Saipa registered their first win, 2-0 against Al Wasl of UAE as the second round of matches continued.

Asia's premier club competition has been running since 2002.

Last year's winners Urawa Reds will join the seven group winners at the quarter-final stage.