Write us off at your peril.
That's the message from Canberra Olympic after they handed Canberra FC their first loss of the season with an emphatic 1-0 win at Deakin Stadium on Sunday.
Canberra's Matthew Waters and Olympic's Nathan Megic jostle for the ball.
Photo: Jamila Toderas
Three times Olympic have come up against the Canberra premier league ladder-leaders this season and three times they have won.
Olympic's Jeremy Habtemariam dramatically transferred to Canberra FC last week and starters Tim Bobolas, Robbie Cattanach and Nik Popovich were all sidelined.
Coach Frank Cachia said given the circumstances, it was not only their best performance of the season but one the best wins in his time at the club.
Advertisement
"We were good, really good, we had a plan we executed and for the first time in a long time we didn't have a spanner thrown in the works with an injury," Cachia said.
"People said we couldn't win with those boys out but we used it as reason to play even better.
"It was definitely our most complete performance of season, we knew what we were up against and delivered.
"We've played three teams this year on top of the table and beaten them all, Woden, Tuggeranong and now Canberra, for anyone that writes us off thats not an opinion that's a fact.
"We're one point behind Tuggeranong and Canberra FC with at least one game in hand, for a team that has lost so many players and had so many reasons to struggle, were sitting in about as good a position we could have hoped for."
The tight contest was decided in the 22nd minute when Dom Giampaolo hit a beautiful through ball for Michael John who hit it first time past keeper Jordan Thurtell.
Canberra coach Paul Macor emphasised he won't be throwing the baby out with the bath water after their first loss in 11 games this season.
Macor said they would put the performance behind them and turn their attention to the Federation Cup final on Saturday night.
"I thought a draw would have been a fair result, but it is what it is, the guys had three games in eight days again and were a little fatigued but nothing against Olympic, they deserved it," Macor said.
"In my squad of 20 I'm lucky to get 11 on the park, because of the injuries in the squad there wasn't one player I could give a good rest today, everyone had to play.
"The boys really dug in deep and gave a good effort, I went into the change rooms afterwards and said great game, what can you do, just one of those things we put aside and move on to next game, we can't dwell.
"We just have to regroup and concentrate on Saturday's game and give it our best."
Canberra will play the Federation Cup final against Gungahlin United who came from behind to down Belconnen United 2-1 on Sunday.
AT A GLANCE:
Canberra Olympic 1 (John 22m) bt Canberra FC 0; Gungahlin United 2 (Muller 33m, O'Dwyer 52m) bt Belconnen United 1 (Barac 10m).
Eamonn Tiernan is a sports reporter with The Canberra Times
Most Viewed in Sport
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
Delivered Mon–Fri.
