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The Roar now has seven wins and a draw from its last eight appearances at Coopers, making it one of the most successful hunting grounds of the reigning champions in recent years.
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But it wasn’t to be as Brisbane took advantage of every Adelaide error – and there were plenty – to defeat the side that could have gone top with a win.
On 26 minutes Brisbane got the party stared through Andrija Kaluderovic, who was able to slide an easy chance past Eugene Galekovic. Collecting a scintillating through-ball from Thomas Broich, Kaluderovic went one-on-one with the keeper and passed his shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
But it was in the 40th minute that things took a turn for the hilarious, as Galekovic – coming off a sterling performance against Sydney FC last week – put one in one of the most calamitous own-goals of the season.
Broich’s long ball was sailing towards the Adelaide goal without carrying much threat, but as Galekovic came out to meet it he misjudged the bounce and watched it clear his jumping header.
Tracking back with Jean Carlos Solorzano, he then put a boot on the ball to send it straight up in the air, and on the way down punched it into his own net.
Galekovic’s error was the Roar’s gain, as well as a plethora of YouTubers who will no doubt have the mishap uploaded before daybreak.
Half time came and went and on the resumption the Reds’ slimmest hopes were dashed as the visitors buried their third of the evening.
After his side held the ball in their attacking half when Dylan McGowan decided to give possession away, defender Jack Hingert made his way into the box and found the ball at his feet. His drive to the near post was too much for Galekovic, and it became apparent that the three points were going to the Sunshine State.
The Reds were able to pull one back in the 71st minute through Craig Goodwin, but despite a few frantic attacks the hosts never looked in the contest. When Danny Bowles conceded a penalty and saw red in injury time Pablo Sanchez buried a penalty, it was too little too late and all that was achieved was a slightly more respectable scorecard.
Adelaide boss Josep Gombau lamented his team’s performance, saying the error-prone display wasn’t up to par.
“I think that today was not our day. We did not have a good game, especially in the first half,” Gombau said.
“In the second half with two goals down [it was] more difficult… we tried to take the risks and put three in the back, we tried to press up and we tried to get the result, and then they scored a third goal and this made it more difficult."
Meanwhile Brisbane coach Frans Thijssen cut a much brighter figure, saying that his team’s ability to play so well after travelling to and from South Korea midweek was a commendable effort.
“I’m happy and have respect for the players because it’s a long trip – 15 hours there and 15 hours back – and to have to play a couple of days later… it was great, because we got three goals,” Thijssen said.
“It’s great that we kept the win in the end, and I think they deserve it.
“It’s good for the boys, good for the confidence, and a happy coach,” he said.
The Roar has guaranteed a finals berth, and will take on Melbourne Victory at home on Saturday evening, while Adelaide will travel to Parramatta to play Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Adelaide United: 1. Eugene Galekovic (GK) (C), 2. Michael Marrone (Bruce Kamau 45’), 3. Nigel Boogaard, 4. Dylan McGowan, 8. Isaias, 9. Sergio Cirio, 11. Bruce Djite, 16. Craig Goodwin, 18. Jimmy Jeggo, 19. Miguel Palanca (Pablo Sanchez 45’), 21. Tarek Elrich
Unused substitutes: Osama Malik, Cameron Watson, John Hall (GK)
Brisbane Roar: 5. Corey Brown, 9. Andrija Kaluderovic, 12. Jean Carlos Solorzano (Devante Clut 61’), 14. Daniel Bowles, 17. Matthew McKay (C), 18. Luke Brattan, 19. Jack Hingert, 21. Jamie Young (GK), 22. Thomas Broich (Steven Lustica 65’), 28. Brandon Borrello (Dimitri Petratos 65’), 33. Luke De Vere
Unused Substitutes: Lachlan Jackson, Fraser Chalmers (GK)