Michael Theo sees red as Adelaide United beat Brisbane Roar

Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

---

Adelaide United stole a controversial last-gasp 2-1 win against Brisbane in the A-League.

Adelaide's Sergio Cirio scored a penalty in the eighth minute of added time when Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo was red-carded at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

Theo, in the act of throwing the ball out, appeared to make contact with Adelaide's Dylan McGowan, who crumbled clutching his face.

Referee Stephen Lucas sent Theo off, leaving Brisbane defender Thomas Kristensen to attempt -- and fail -- to keep out Cirio's match-winning penalty.

The Roar, with 33 points, remain in fourth spot but missed an opportunity to close the gap on third-placed Melbourne City (36 points).

Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

---

And Brisbane have concerns over captain Matt McKay, who was forced off early in the second half with a knee injury.

The late drama came after Roar striker Jamie McLaren and Adelaide frontman Baba Diawara had earlier scored goals in a hard-fought game in which United playmaker Marcelo Carrusca was also sent off.

McLaren's 60th minute tap-in -- his 14th goal of the league season -- cancelled a neatly taken header by Diawara in the first half in front of a 7,197-strong crowd.

Diawara expertly latched on to a Carrusca corner -- his near-post run left Jade North lagging in his wake and he assuredly nodded into the net.

But Carrusca, arguably the most influential player, was dismissed in the 82nd minute -- he was shown an initial yellow for dissent in the first half and another for kicking the ball away after teammate Cirio gave away a foul.

Defending champions Adelaide stay bottom but are now just two points adrift of ninth-placed Central Coast.