They restored their pride after the Asian Champions League humbling with an impressive display against the Japanese side where they dominated for large periods of the game.

Yasuhito Endo scored the lone goal in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.

The Japan international struck midway through the first half at the Toyota Stadium to give Gamba their third win against the Australian side in just over a month, setting up a semi-final clash against Manchester United in Yokohama on Thursday.

Gamba trounced Adelaide 5-0 on aggregate in the Asian Champions League final but the Australians gave a stronger account of themselves early on, nearly taking the lead after 14 minutes when skipper Travis Dodd made a powerful run from the halfway line, beating two defenders before firing just wide.

Having created little despite dominating possession, Gamba went ahead with a finely-crafted goal in the 23rd minute.

Takahiro Futagawa chipped the ball into the Adelaide box towards Ryuji Bando, who outjumped Robert Cornthwaite, nodding the ball down for an unmarked Endo to drive a low shot between the legs of Eugene Galekovic from just inside the box.

Adelaide went close to levelling the score in the 32nd minute when Dodd sent in an inviting cross from the right edge of the box towards Cassio and Cristiano, only for Akira Kaji to head the ball away before it could reach either of the Brazilian forwards.

A fine through-ball by Endo found Lucas in plenty of space in the 39th minute. The Brazilian side-stepped a challenge by Daniel Mullen but lost his balance as he shaped to shoot, sending a weak effort straight at Galekovic.

Adelaide's best opportunity of the half arrived three minutes before half-time when Scott Jamieson's cross from the left was met by Dodd, whose towering header looped over goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya but came back off the crossbar.

A great ball forward by Futagawa two minutes into the second half bounced just out of the reach of Endo but Gamba appeared content to sit back and defend their advantage, allowing Adelaide little time and space to build their attack and hitting the Australians hard on the counter.

It nearly paid off as Bando saw his 72nd-minute effort deflected wide by Cornthwaite while Lucas fired straight at the legs of Galekovic after Endo intercepted a Cornthwaite pass three minutes later.

Galekovic did well to also deny Futagawa and Lucas before Adelaide crafted a pair of opportunities in stoppage time.

Substitute Robert Younis spun and volleyed a left-footed attempt from 25 metres that dipped just past the left upright while Dodd headed narrowly wide with the Australian side's final opportunity just before the final whistle.