The last-placed Roar threatened to ambush unbeaten Adelaide during a sparkling 2-1 first half on Saturday afternoon that featured a goal inside six minutes and a penalty just before the break.
But the Reds scored only 38 seconds after the restart in a sign of things to come, before Archie Goodwin's first goal of the season giving his side an ultimately decisive lead with half an hour left.
Brisbane's Jay O'Shea (centre) scored from the penalty spot against Adelaide. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
Despite their renewed attacking vigour, the Roar have lost their first four games of Ruben Zadkovich's first full season as coach and are the only team yet to register a competition point.
The Reds, meanwhile, will finish the weekend ensconced in the top four regardless of results on the final day of the second Unite Round.
On loan from Belgian side Gent, Keegan Jelacic had the opening goal as reward for the Roar's hot start, the 22-year-old striking from long range after a raid down the left wing.
Stefan Mauk erased the Roar's first lead of the season after Austin Ayoubi picked Hosine Bility's pocket coming out of trouble, but a spot kick helped the Roar go into the sheds on top.
Adelaide's Bart Vriends was ruled to have pulled Thomas Waddingham down in the box, sparking a melee between the sides that left Mauk and Kato Caletti to be cautioned by the referee.
Players scuffled as tension mounted during the ALM match between Brisbane and Adelaide. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
Jay O'Shea made no mistake from the penalty spot, but it was Adelaide that came out of the gates faster in the second half.
The Reds equalised through former Nottingham Forest forward Zach Clough, who poked the ball past goalkeeper Macklin Freke as spectators were still taking their seats after half-time.
After Mauk sent a long ball into the final third just after the hour mark, Dylan Pierias found an unmarked Goodwin in support for the Reds to score what proved the match-winner.
Jonny Yull had the chance to double the Reds' lead during stoppage time but sprayed his shot to the left of the woodwork from inside the box.
In the first half of his first game against his former club, Brisbane's Ben Warland was shown a yellow card for an alarming coathanger tackle on Mauk.
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