By David Polkinghorne
Gungahlin United coach Claudio Canosa says their focus will be on both the FFA Cup and the ACT National Premier League and he's confident they can still make finals in the latter.
Gungahlin's chances of making the play-offs took a hit with a 3-2 loss to Canberra FC at Deakin on Sunday, but Canosa felt it would come down to their final-round game against Canberra Olympic.
Gungahlin drops to sixth on the ladder, two points behind Olympic, who currently fill the last finals berth.
He said United deserved a draw against FC, but it was always tough to come away from Deakin with anything.
They play Sydney Olympic in the first round of the FFA Cup at Gungahlin on August 4 and also have two tough fixtures against Olympic and Cooma Tigers in their final three games.
"It will probably go down to the wire, to the last game ... the competition is close," Canosa said.
"Both [FFA Cup and the league are the focus]. We need to try to be competitive, Sydney Olympic, we know that will be a very difficult game, we're representing Canberra.
"We want to go the best we can for Gungahlin and for Canberra football."
FC took the lead through Domenic Giampaolo and had the better of the first half to lead 1-0 at the break.
But Canberra FC coach Zoran Glavinic said they were "atrocious" in the second half after Daniel Bennett had doubled their lead.
Gungahlin got back into the game through Daniel Barac's goal and then levelled when Shane Murray converted a penalty after Thomas Milicevic brought down Michael John.
But United were caught on the break and Bennett slotted his second to win it.
FC also has a tough run home — Olympic, the FFA Centre of Excellence, Belconnen United and what is shaping as a potential championship decider against Cooma.
"Something happened in the second half and we were actually atrocious, it was really poor," Glavinic said.
"We went to 2-0 on a counter-attack and Bennett scored and I thought we were going to cruise and go three or four [goals up], but to Gungahlin's credit they came back ... to 2-all and I thought, 'what's going on here'?"
In other games, Cooma easily accounted for Tuggeranong United 5-0, while Olympic beat Monaro Panthers 4-0.
ACT NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
Canberra FC 3 (Daniel Bennett 2, Domenic Giampaolo) bt Gungahlin United 2 (Daniel Barac, Shane Murray); Cooma Tigers 5 bt Tuggeranong United 0; Canberra Olympic 4 bt Monaro Panthers 0.