Brisbane Roar have endured a losing start to the season, going down 3-1 to Gold Coast United in a fiery derby match at Lang Park tonight.
The scoreline flattered the visitors, who proved clinical in front of goal despite seeing much less of the ball than their neighbours from the north.
In a match which saw 10 players booked, Shane Smeltz opened the scoring for United in the first half and was joined on the scoresheet by captain Jason Culina.
A late spot kick from Sergio van Dijk had the home fans on their feet, before Robson cruelly ended any hopes of a comeback with a sealer in stoppage time.
Van Dijk had the first chance of the match on the quarter-hour mark when Robbie Kruse intercepted the ball deep in the Gold Coast half and teed up a shot, but the Dutchman's first-time effort from the edge of the area flashed wide.
Two minutes later the Coast had their first chance and Smeltz took full advantage, flicking Joel Porter's cross past Liam Reddy to open the scoring for the visitors against the run of play.
Brisbane regained control of the match and nearly hit back midway through the half through van Dijk, who rose well to meet Matt McKay's cross with a header but couldn't find the target.
On 29 minutes van Dijk saw another header bobble past the post, after Luke DeVere's throw-in was flicked on to the Roar striker by Josh McCloughan.
The home team continued to knock on the door, with Mitch Nichols stinging Scott Higgins' palms with a header from a McKay free kick.
The Roar's best chance of the half came two minutes before the interval, when an attempted Higgins clearance was closed down by van Dijk, who then skipped past the Gold Coast ‘keeper and tried to square the ball to Nichols, but a desperate lunge from Sebastian Van Den Brink saved the visitors.
The hosts continued to press after the break, with van Dijk again leading the attack.
Nichols took the ball out of the Roar half and fed Henrique on the left, who put his cross just inside the edge of the area for van Dijk, but again the header went the wrong side of the post.
For all their attacking play, Brisbane found themselves further behind on 59 minutes when Culina finished a neat counter attack.
With the home team pushing forward in numbers, Smeltz charged at a thin Roar defence and squared the ball to Porter, who in turn laid off to Culina to cut inside and slide the ball home.
Frank Farina immediately introduced Charlie Miller and the Scotsman showed his intentions with a delicate chip over for McKay, but the midfielder's volley from an acute angle was straight at Higgins.
Reddy was finally able to make his first save of the match on 69 minutes, when Robson unleashed a long range drive at the Roar ‘keeper, who parried the first effort and needed to get up quickly to keep out Smeltz's follow-up from close range.
With the game slipping away, Nichols tried to drag the Roar back into the match with a cross that caused havoc in the Coast box, before Michael Zullo snapped a shot over the bar.
Four minutes from time the Young Socceroos midfielder put in another dangerous cross – this time to van Dijk – but the ball got stuck under the Dutchman's feet at the crucial moment.
The big target man then saw a free kick flash past the post, before finally beating Higgins from the spot on 90 minutes.
Zullo's quick feet drew the foul from Matt Osman, allowing van Dijk to open his account for the season with a well-taken penalty.
But as soon as a glimmer of hope appeared, it was cruelly taken away, when Robson sped past the Roar defence and slotted the ball under Reddy, with time all but over.
Frank Farina remained upbeat after the match, despite the loss.
"I thought we played quite well to be honest," the Roar coach said. "I think the Coast had four shots and got three goals, not a bad ratio.
"I think if we play like that, improve a little bit as well, we'll win more games than we lose. Sometimes in football you just have to take your medicine, this is one of those times."