A clever strike from Brisbane skipper Matt McKay earned the Roar their first win of the season and continued Sydney FC's disappointing start to their title defence.
The Roar shredded the Sydney defence from start to finish and the one-goal margin was an inaccurate reflection of their dominance in shutting out the defending A-League champions.
It wasn't until the 53rd minute that Brisbane skipper McKay could break the deadlock with a well driven right foot shot from the top of the area, sending the Roar fans and playing group into raptures.
Quality service from midfielders, McKay and Thomas Broich kept the opportunities coming through the 90, but goal-front execution was lacking and Mitch Nichols in particular was unlucky not to open the scoring with two unmarked efforts from within the area.
The most controversial moment of the match came in the 17th minute, when a McKay cross from the dead-ball took a deflection off a Sydney defender and appeared to cross the line before former Roar keeper Liam Reddy reeled it back.
Roar players appealed in unison, but the linesman had nothing to offer and the scores remained locked at nil-all.
Sydney FC were rarely on the offensive, relying on long balls on the counter, and in defence they played with physicality, leading to yellow cards for Hayden Foxe, Scott Jameison and Sung-Hwan Byun.
The Sky Blues are now without a win in three starts, while the Roar have earmarked themselves as 2011 contenders should they find an answer to their finishing woes.
Thomas Broich, Henrique and Barbarouses all had plenty of prime opportunities, but the majority of their 18 attempts at goal were well-wayward.
Putting a slight dampener on the win for Brisbane were injuries to key players, Ivan Franjic (quad) and Henrique (hamstring).
Brisbane Roar: 1 (McKay '53)
Sydney FC: 0