With the pressure on to produce a result, Frank Farina’s men duly delivered at Suncorp Stadium.

In display full of character, commitment and no small amount of flair, Roar took it to the league-leaders in what was a highly entertaining encounter and thoroughly deserved the win that takes them with a point of the Mariners.

Queensland had to come from behind to secure victory, but will be buoyed by a performance that suggested they are genuine title contenders this season.

Roar welcomed back skipper Craig Moore after a week on the sidelines with a calf injury, but in a slightly reshuffled line-up Marcinho started on the bench and was joined by Josh McCloughan who had been battling a knee injury all week.

Roar should have taken an early lead when Massimo Murdocca’s defence-splitting pass in the third minute put Matt McKay in the clear but Mariners’ skipper Alex Wilkinson intervened at the crucial moment.

The chance was still alive though and Reinaldo pounced on the loose ball only to see his attempt to round Danny Vukovic in the visitor’s goal foiled by the ‘keeper’s outstretched hand.

In a blistering opening to the game, it was the Mariners who went close next when Greg Owens’ 20-metre free kick rebounded back off the upright and was cleared to safety.

In the 13th minute the deadlock was broken as the visitors caught Roar on the break. Matt Simon broke down the right and when his low cross evaded everyone, Socceroo John Aloisi was on hand to sweep the ball home at the far post.

However, eight minutes later Roar were level thanks to an own goal from Tony Vidmar.

Sasa Ognenovski started the move with a fine 50-metre cross-field ball the Robbie Kruse out on the right flank.

Kruse used his pace to skip past his marker and when the cross came in Vidmar turned the ball past Vukovic with Reinaldo applying vital pressure to force the error.

The action kept coming and on 28 minutes Roar took the lead and scored what proved to be the match winner.

Matt McKay’s deep runs had been causing problems for the Mariners’ defence all game and as he latched onto a great ball from Robbie Kruse the alarm bells were ringing again.

A neat interchange with Tiatto and some trickery to fox Alex Wilkinson was enough to make the room for the shot that deflected past Vukovic for 2-1.

At the start of the second half Liam Reddy had to be alert to push John Aloisi’s free-kick clear and at the other end Sasa Ognenovski was a whisker away from bursting the net with a missile-like effort from fully 30 metres.

Marcinho was introduced on the hour for the hobbling Tiatto and within moments of coming on he blasted a left-footed drive just past the post.

With 20 minutes remaining the visitors had Vukovic to thank for an amazing triple save during a frantic goalmouth scramble.

The young ‘keeper first denied Kruse then saved twice from Marcinho as Roar turned on the power in search of a third goal.

Greg Owens had a late chance for the visitors as they desperately tried to equalise, but Roar held on comfortably to take out what could be a season defining win.