It took the Cooma Tigers 63 years to win the club's first top-flight league championship.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But their second could come a lot sooner if Sunday's gripping 3-2 victory against fellow title contenders Canberra Olympic is any indication.
Now called Tigers FC after partnering with the Brindabella Blues, a double to livewire midfielder Julian Borgna and a stunning strike from Jeremias Ibarra sealed all three points for the visitors at O'Connor Enclosed.
The win has catapulted Tigers FC to second in the Capital Football National Premier League, just one point behind Belconnen United.
After winning the league championship last year for the first time since the club was established in 1952, Borgna believes the Tigers have the squad capable of going back to back.
"If we keep playing at our top level, I think we can win the league," Borgna said.
"We've had a few new players come into the team this year, but I think it's the belief of the players and our quality.
"That's given us confidence to achieve the same goal this year."
Olympic peppered the goals in the dying stages with several golden chances, but couldn't find the equaliser to the chagrin of coach Frank Cachia.
"We don't have any excuses," Cachia said.
"We knocked on the door in the last 15 minutes and nearly got a result.
"We're in (the dressing room) questioning ourselves why it took 65 or 70 minutes to lift and start doing stuff."
class was on show with a pair of superb finishes in the first half as the Tigers took a 2-1 lead into half-time after Tom McLachlan gave Olympic the lead after 21 minutes.
The Tigers went further ahead on 53 minutes when Ibarra smashed a powerful shot from 20m out into the back of the net.
Borgna's emotions got the better of him, receiving a yellow card for a scuffle with an Olympic player before being substituted by coach Gaby Wilk to prevent the risk of being sent off.
Olympic seized the momentum.
A quality finish from Nick Bobolas in the 75th minute made for a thrilling finale as the hosts endeavoured to get a share of the points.
Olympic have signed Sydney FC National Youth League striker Jordan Tsekenis from Belconnen United to replace Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, who is out for the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
Belconnen returned to the top beating Tuggeranong United 3-2, while Monaro Panthers and Woden-Weston FC drew 2-2 at Riverside Stadium.
Capital Football National Premier League: Tigers FC 3 (Julian Borgna 23', 41', Jeremias Ibarra 53') bt Canberra Olympic 2 (Tom McLachlan 21', Nick Bobolas 75') at O'Connor Enclosed. Belconnen United 3 (Goran Mukevski 32', Cameron Reinhart 55', Jason Ugrinic 63') bt Tuggeranong United 2 (Zac Munster 15', Harry Pettit 60') at Kambah. Monaro Panthers 2 (David Jenkins 34' (og), Mark Shields 60') drew Woden-Weston FC 2 (Sam McDonald 14', Nikolas Popovich 42') at Riverside Stadium.
