Adelaide’s Pablo Sanchez walks past celebrating Roar players after Brisbane’s goal. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: News Corp Australia

Smith, who signed with Thai Premier League side FC Bangkok Glass this week, had to watch on from the bench as Henrique’s stunning first-half strike was enough to give the Roar their second win in four games under Thijssen.

The Roar skipper eventually entered the fray with only a minute to play in regular time to ensure his side held on for three points.

Newcastle’s horror week got even worse when it slumped to a 2-0 A-League loss to Perth Glory in front of 9233 fans at nib Stadium.

Richard Garcia’s 11th-minute strike and an 86th-minute thunderbolt from Nebojsa Marinkovic were enough to seal all three points for Glory.

Newcastle finished the match with 10 men after skipper Kew Jaliens was given a straight red in the 82nd minute for a studs-up challenge on Scott Jamieson.

Perth’s eighth win of the season means they remain at the top of the table for at least another round.

In Adelaide, barely 40 seconds were on the clock when Craig Goodwin steamed forward for the hosts and whipped across a low ball that was just beyond the reach of Fabio Ferreira.

United defender Tarek Elrich’s blushes were spared in the fifth minute when the woodwork came to his rescue after almost turning Roar winger Dimitri Petratos’s cross into his own net.

After stemming an early onslaught, Brisbane took the lead on 18 minutes through Henrique’s brilliance.

The Brazilian exploited space on the edge of United’s area before curving a shot that struck the inside of the framework and nestled into the top, far corner of the net.

Brisbane could have added a second three minutes later when Henrique and Petratos had just two Reds defenders to beat, but the latter rattled his shot into the post and lacked composure when he blasted his follow-up effort over the bar.

Ferreira flashed a dangerous delivery across the face of the goal that was centimetres away from Cirio levelling proceedings, before Henrique was forced from the ground with injury shortly before half-time.

Cirio again could have equalised for Adelaide on 57 minutes when he drove into the Roar’s area following Bruce Djite’s timely interception, but the Spaniard drove his shot wide.

A quickly taken set-piece had Ferreira in behind the visitors’ rearguard, but goalkeeper Jamie Young made an important stop. Pablo Sanchez should have grabbed a point at the death for Adelaide when he was put through one-on-one with Young, but the 31-year-old hit a tame shot straight at the gloveman.

Meanwhile, Mark Bosnich says the pressure is now squarely on Mat Ryan to retain the Socceroos No. 1 jersey for the Asian Cup thanks to the resurgence of Mitch Langerak at Bundesliga club ­Borussia Dortmund.

Langerak’s patience has finally paid off after Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed the ex-Melbourne Victory keeper would remain in the starting side ahead of Germany World Cup player Roman Weidenfeller for “at least” the next three games.

Playing second fiddle for almost five years, Langerak, 26, has shone in his past two starts after Weidenfeller was demoted when Dortmund fell to last place in the Bundesliga.

The stage is now set for Langerak to make up for lost time and usurp Club Brugge’s Ryan for the Socceroos No 1 keeper role ahead of their AFC Asian Cup campaign, which starts against Kuwait on January 9.

Bosnich tipped his hat to Langerak for ignoring rival offers and staying the course at Dortmund.

“He believes he is ready to play — and he has proved that,” ­Bosnich said.

AAP