The Dutchman stroked home a 35th minute penalty, awarded after Scott Jamierson's foul on Reinaldo, and then curled home a second half cracker.

Mitch Nichols should have made it three but the officials failed to spot that his shot off the underside of the crossbar had crossed the line.

Adelaide had a chance to haul themselves back into the contest but Lloyd Owusu saw his penalty brilliantly tipped on to a post by Griffin McMaster.

Brisbane were under pressure in the first half until Scott Jamieson fouled Reinaldo with a body block on the right side of the box.

Van Dijk took the kick from the spot and sent the ball into the right hand corner of the net as goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic dived to his left.

A short David Dodd pass across the box set up van Dijk up for his second-half goal, the Roar forward pulling the trigger from 10 metres and silencing the crowd.

Adelaide had plenty of scoring opportunities with substitute Lloyd Owusu's 70th minute spot-kick the best of them.

Owusu, who was gifted the opportunity after Luke Devere had been called for handball, sent the ball towards the right hand corner but a diving McMaster got a hand to it and deflected into the woodwork.

After an uninspiring opening 15 minutes in the first half, in which a placid Mitch Nichols grubber was the only shot on target, the Reds started to take control with patient possession and probing set pieces.

In the 26th minute a Travis Dodd run and mini-cross created space in the box for Cristiano. The Brazilian got his shot away but goalkeeper McMaster anticipated the play and trapped the ball off the boot.

Only moments later Robbie Cornthwaite headed a Jamieson corner to the turf but McMaster managed to flip the bouncing ball over the crossbar on the second attempt.

And then the visitors struck against the run of play. Van Dijk's penalty kick breathed life into Roar's game and by the break they were the team displaying the greatest initiative and flair.

Kristian Sarkies' long range free kick in the 55th minute was just off target while a few minutes later he blazed away but missed to the right once more.

Travis Dodd and substitute Cassio were also visibly disappointed with their second-half attempts from close range in the 69th minute and injury time.