A solitary late goal by Fabian Barbiero ended the stalemate at Suncorp Stadium and gave visitors Adelaide three vital points with the 1-0 win.

Barbiero popped up with 15 minutes remaining and powerfully nodded home a pinpoint cross from Matthew Leckie to secure the points for the Reds and snap a six-match winless streak.

In a cagey opening to the match neither goalkeeper had much work to do with Adelaide's Paul Reid and Roar pair Craig Moore and David Dodd all putting efforts harmlessly off target.

On the half-hour mark Luke DeVere sparked a counter for the Roar and opened the field up for Sergio van Dijk, but the Dutchman's piledriver from distance was comfortably dealt with by Eugene Galekovic.

Five minutes later Mitch Nichols looked to light up proceedings with a good through ball for Henrique, the Brazilian sending the ball agonisingly across the face of goal.

Nichols then came close to opening the scoring as he latched onto a delightful chip from David Dodd, but Galekovic was quickly out to block the shot with his legs.

After Adam Sarota sent a half-volley crashing over the bar, Henrique nearly opened the scoring with the best chance of the half just before the break.

The diminutive Brazilian collected the ball from van Dijk and charged into the area, only to be denied by an oustretched foot from the United goalkeeper.

Alemao fired a warning shot at the hosts early into the second period, jinking past Michael Zullo and Dodd before blazing over the bar.

Eight minutes into the second period Griffin McMaster was forced into his first save of the match, pulling off a superb reaction stop to deny Cassio on the volley after a searching cross from Travis Dodd.

The Brisbane goalkeeper then rode his luck somewhat to avoid conceding immediately afterwards.

Josh McCloughan cleared the ball off the line after Mathew Leckie flicked the ball over McMaster, before Cassio had an effort from the edge of the area deflect a whisker wide off DeVere.

The home team then regained the ascendency and put the Reds under the pump, with Nichols again at the point of the move.

Van Dijk found the former Young Socceroo on the penalty spot and he turned Michael Marrone before getting a toe-poke in on goal but the shot lacked the power to trouble Galekovic.

But Barbiero drove a dagger into the hearts of the home faithful with 12 minutes left, rising to nod home Leckie's cross to give his team the lead against the run of play.

Henrique desperately tried for a late equaliser with a drive past the post on 82 minutes, before DeVere hit a volley straight into the arms of Galekovic.

Brisbane were unlucky not to grab a dramatic late equaliser through Massimo Murdocca who hit a wicked curling shot from outside the area but a spectacular save from Galekovic denied the midfielder a fairytale in his return from injury.

If that was a sign it wasn't to be the Roar's night the next chance confirmed it, as an almighty goalmouth scramble concluded with DeVere's goal-bound header taking the faintest off touches off Iain Fyfe to ensure the Reds left with all three points.

The result sees the Reds remain in last place on the Hyundai A-League table, but the South Australians move onto 20 points, equal with the ninth-placed Roar.