Brisbane Roar have extended their unbeaten record to a remarkable 19 matches after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Adelaide United in the top-of-the-table clash at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday night.
A second-half strike from Jean Carlos Solorazno was enough to see the Roar keep their undefeated run intact and a put one hand on the premiership, with Brisbane now 11-points clear at the top.
The Reds looked promising early and it was United who had the first chance inside the opening five minutes when Cassio strode into the box and lashed in a powerful left-foot shot from eight metres.
Roar keeper Michael Theoklitos managed to get his fingers to the ball as it crashed onto the upright and out for a corner.
But as the half wore on, Brisbane improved and after a sluggish opening quarter of an hour the visitors were looking dangerous with striker Solorzano giving the Reds plenty of grief.
The sides went in goalless at the break but just before the hour, Brisbane carved out another great chance when Solorzano threaded a ball between three United defenders to put Kosta Barbarouses through on goal.
Mark Birighitti rushed out to meet the zippy striker and blocked the shot with the rebound falling to Mitch Nicholls whose overhead kick sailed over the bar.
In the 70th minute Solorzano eventually gave the visitors the lead pouncing on a ricocheted through ball.
Nicholls was involved again when his pass, intended for Barbarouses, was partly intercepted by Iain Fyfe, but the ball fell straight into the path of the Costa Rican Roar striker.
Solorzano took a touch before firing through the legs of the oncoming Birighitti to notch up his 10th goal of the campaign.
Substiture Henrique nearly doubled Brisbane's advantage in his first game back since Week 5 when he skipped past Cameron Watson and rifled a shot against the post.
The Reds almost drew level a minute later when Sergio van Dijk got his head to an Iain Ramsay corner only for the glove of Michael Theoklotis to keep the Roar in front.
United had claims for a penalty in the 90th minute with the ball appearing to strike the arm of a Brisbane defender in swarm of bodies after an Adelaide corner.
The Reds finished the match with 10 men after Joe Keenan was stretchered off with an ankle injury.
Adelaide United 0
Brisbane Roar 1 (Solorzano 58)
Crowd: 14, 420 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide