A team which was too tired to win took on a team which doesn't know how to win at home, in an unsatisfying Hyundai A-League encounter at Suncorp Stadium last night.
Despite their heavy Asian Champions League schedule, Adelaide United took home the points. Queensland Roar look like they will be thankful to play their next two games on the road, as they disappointed a disappointing crowd of 11,000.
Robert Cornthwaite was not far away from best-on-ground honours, as he capped off a strong performance at right back by snapping up the winning goal with some alert penalty-box opportunism in the 60th minute.
After a corner was half-cleared, the ball was played into the box a second time. Coming back from an off-side position, Adelaide striker Cristiano won the header, nodding it across the box into space. Cornthwaite reacted best, getting past Josh McCloughan's ineffective attempt to clear, knocking the ball forward with his thigh, and then following up to head over a hesitant Liam Reddy.
As is quite common at matches at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland made enough chances, and had enough possession, to comfortably win the game. The difference in this game was that Adelaide's defence almost always managed to make those chances difficult enough, pushing the attack one more pass wide, or closing down any room to shoot. Queensland didn't miss any sitters in this game.
The game was only one minute old when Queensland's talisman, former Rangers star Charlie Miller, broke forward with the ball at his feet. His attempt to curl a low left-foot cross around a defender and into the stride of Reinaldo was just too far ahead of the big Brazilian.
Without the services of injured Sergio Van Dyk for this match, Frank Farina had selected Miller in attack alongside Reinaldo. This gave a start out on the left to Michael Zullo, a favourite of Roar fans. Zullo's battle with Robbie Cornthwaite was just about the game-long highlight. The lanky defender was never totally beaten by the livewire Zullo, but still most of Queensland's better chances came from Zullo's interchanges with McKay.
It seems strange to this writer that Zullo played almost exclusively on the left side in this game. Adelaide's left back, Scott Jamieson, seemed a much more nervous customer than Cornthwaite, and Zullo's dribbling skills might have given him space for the occasional shot, if he started from the right wing.
Tactically, Queensland seemed to lack a Plan B.
Plan A is clearly defined: pass it forward to Charlie Miller and something will happen. And no doubt that plan will yield plenty of goals for Queensland this season. One suspects that with a more composed finisher in attack alongside him (a Robbie Kruse, for instance) that Miller might set up even more goals as well as scoring a few himself.
But as Miller tires, Plan A also fades away. Then it is down to the industry of Matt McKay and Massimo Murdocca to create something. This time, it wasn't enough.
There were no goals in the first half. Queensland had the slightly better chances, but Adelaide's defence was handling them well.
Adelaide were not showing much going forward. Cristiano was notably ineffective ... Moore seemed to have him firmly under control. The spark - if there was one - came from Cassio, with occasional glimpses from Fabian Barbieri.
Cornthwaite's goal came in the 60th minute, and to state the blindingly obvious, it changed the game.
Almost immediately after the resumption, Zullo put a delightful cross onto the head of McKay, whose header was palmed into the net by Adelaide keeper Mark Birighitti.
McKay's delight was short-lived as he was ruled (correctly) offside and the goal did not stand.
Farina began to ring the changes. He must have considerable faith in the powers of Charlie Miller, because the Scotsman stayed on, even though he had just about faded out of the game, and Reinaldo came off, replaced by Tahj Minniecon.
With the departure of Reinaldo, Queensland largely lost their formation and lost their way. Even the later introduction of Tim Smits did not restore the shape. Occasional half chances were still found, but nothing clear cut. Minniecon on this occasion was ineffective, starved of supply. Smits barely got a touch of the ball.
Queensland committed more men forward, with Mckay and even Craig Moore having opportunities to make Mark Birighitti earn his money. But the keeper remained largely untroubled, and in the end made no saves of any note.
This writer finds it difficult to understand why Robbie Kruse can't even claim a place on the bench in this Queensland team. There must be a behind-the-scnese explanation, as it makes no sense otherwise. Kruse's goals-per-game record in the A-League is better than every other Roar player except Charlie Miller, and yet he can't get a run. Tim Smits may turn out to be a fine striker, but when you have a player like Kruse unused, the fans are entitled to ask why.
Many Roar fans are also calling for Liam Reddy to take a spell on the bench in favour of Griffin McMaster. The reserve keeper was outstanding in the games he played last season, while Reddy has been a long way short of his best this season. Farina likes to portray a coaching persona of being attack-minded and adventurous. Giving Robbie Kruse more game time and sending Reddy for a spell on the bench doesn't seem too adventurous a move to make at this stage of the season.
This match marked Mark Shields' retirement as a referee. As always he was on the spot, quick with a decision, and absolutely unswayed by the crowd. The best ref in the A-League, and he will be missed.