Reds striker Sergio van Dijk was the main culprit, ironically on his return to former club Brisbane, after he missed a close-range sitter from point-blank range late in the contest.

Adelaide had burst out of the gates with some mobile football and took the lead in the 28th minute when Mathew Leckie continued his brilliant start to the season with a clever individual effort to open the scoring.

Roar hit back just seven minutes later through a Thomas Broich free kick, but any threat of a rare high-scoring contest at Suncorp fizzled out with neither team showing the required finishing touch.

Brisbane were overshadowed in the opening exchanges and when United midfielder Adam Hughes shook the woodwork from 25 metres out in the fifth minute, the signs looked bleak for the home side.

Competition leaders Adelaide continued to enjoy the majority of possession early, and playing a confident, quick-passing style of football, looked in complete control.

Leckie continued his strong start to the season, opening the scoring with a clever individual effort, creating space from the top of the area to fire left-footed past a diving Michael Theoklitos.

Having capitulated after conceding the first goal against Melbourne Victory last weekend, the Roar showed better commitment at home and hit back with an equaliser in the 36th minute from a dead-ball opportunity.

The equaliser went to Broich who swung the ball into the area and over the line when an uncharacteristically hesitant Eugene Galekovic failed to address the danger.

Back on level pegging, Brisbane closed out the half, showing a better ability to match pace with the visitors, and both sides had chances going into the break.

Returning after the interval, both sides continued to provide an attacking contest and the game looked certain to burst open at any moment.

But despite chances to both sides, a third goal proved elusive.

Encouraged by his earlier strike, Broich continued to pepper the United box, but could not strike twice.

But for all Brisbane's misses, the worst blunder in front of goal came from Adelaide.

Unmarked and a metre out from an open goal, former Roar-star van Dijk somehow bobbled the ball past the post after the perfect pass from Marcos Flores.

United were forced to play out the final minutes a player short, after Cassio, who was cautioned for back chat in the first half, picked up a second yellow card in the 87th and was sent for an early shower.

Brisbane Roar 1 (Broich 35')
Adelaide United 1 (Leckie 28')
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