[custom_adv] Japan's Kashima Antlers won the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history with a 2-0 aggregate victory after their return leg against giants Persepolis ended in a goalless draw on Saturday (Nov 10). [custom_adv] The Japanese side had won the first leg 2-0 in Kashima last week with Brazilian duo Leo Silva and Serginho on target. [custom_adv] That left Persepolis, also chasing their first continental title, with plenty to do in Tehran and although they created several chances in front of a 100,000-strong crowd at the Azadi Stadium, Go Oiwa's men held on to their two-goal advantage. [custom_adv] The visitors took a strong lead into the second leg after goals from Leo Silva and Serginho, but it was the defensive players who got them over the line. [custom_adv] Persepolis pushed hard in the final third in search of a route back into the tie, yet they lacked the craft to break down Kashima and Kwoun Sun-tae was required only to make routine stops. [custom_adv] Kashima clung on and effectively wound down the clock to become Asian champions for the very first time. [custom_adv] Shoma Doi lashed wide when he might have added to Kashima's aggregate lead early on, before the hosts took control and Ali Alipour wastefully directed a close-range header into Kwoun's grateful arms. [custom_adv] Bashar Resan shot straight at the goalkeeper, too, and a largely scrappy first half appeared to suit the Japanese outfit, who were able to protect their advantage with relative ease. [custom_adv] Alipour sent a volley whistling wide as the pressure on Kwoun's goal built again at the start of the second period, but their momentum waned, and time soon ran out for the hosts. [custom_adv] Another header from Alipour missed the target as Kashima eased to a thoroughly deserved aggregate victory, becoming the third Japanese side to win the trophy after Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka. [custom_adv] Kashima's triumph was the second straight time a Japanese team had won the title, following Urawa Red Diamonds' victory last year. Before that Gamba Osaka had claimed the crown in 2008. [custom_adv] Persepolis, known for their mean defence, had no option but to attack on Saturday, but Kashima goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae put in a virtuoso performance. [custom_adv] Kwoun, for whom this was a third Asian crown following two with South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, was at the top of his game, keeping the , especially Ali Alipour and Bashar Resan, at bay. [custom_adv] Seven minutes before half-time Resan muscled his way past two defenders close to the Kashima goal, but failed to beat Kwoun at his near post. [custom_adv] Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic sent on Mohsen Rabiekhah and Ehsan Alvanzadeh in a desperate attempt to break the deadlock but to no avail.