Picture the scene: a heaving stadium, 90 per cent of which chants Shepp, Shepp, as goals ripple the net and flares punctuate the air with an incandescent hue.
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This is a swirling sea of local pride, dressed in red and black.
But it’s nowhere near Shepparton.
It’s at The Albanian Cup, hosted at the home of Western United Melbourne’s suburb of Tarneit – and Shepparton Albanian Eagles have won the whole thing.
A team formed only three years ago soared to new heights on Sunday, defeating a star-studded Adelaide Eagles 3-1 in the final.
Yet, it wasn’t just the win itself.
It was the way it travelled.
Viral videos bounced overseas, racking up 2.1 million views over the course of the four-day tournament, with noise spilling from Shepparton to Tirana to wherever Albanian hearts beat loudest.
And back in Shepparton, coach Roven Shaholli, his voice still hoarse from celebration, had front-row seats to the whole thing.
“It’s something words can’t describe,” he said.
“It’s gone overseas, (the videos have) gone viral – the guys that have been winning with Adelaide, they’ve got ex-international players, A-League players.
“These young kids that have dreamt of that, their dreams come to reality – it’s surreal. It was amazing. It’s changed everyone’s lives.”
Shepparton Albanian Eagles, comprised mainly of local talent, started the tournament like a house on fire.
Shaholli’s side thrashed Melbourne Illyria 6-0 to get under way, going on to post 5-1, 2-1, 2-0 and 4-1 victories en route to the final against a heavily-touted Adelaide Eagles.
They’d been there before.
Shepparton hadn’t even got close.
But nine minutes in, the underdogs proved why they belonged.
Riki Koyanagi’s through ball lofted into Nick Mori’s path, who lashed it in off the post from the edge of the box.
The score remained at 1-0 heading into half-time, but 11 minutes after the restart, Adelaide Eagles levelled from the penalty spot to see a volley of flares light up the stands.
No less than 30 seconds after the restart, however, Shepparton was back ahead.
Hassan Alhilfi picked up the ball on the halfway line, scything through five opposition players and finding the top corner with a neat finish.
Twelve minutes from time, Koyanagi got his reward on the left wing, as he sent a pile driver from outside the box, past the keeper and in.
Shepparton Albanian Eagles’ three stars sealed a maiden Albanian Cup collection in the final, but over the course of the tournament, Shaholli couldn’t fault any one of his proud squad.
“The whole team played well. You look at the highlights and the way we were prepared and the way they believed in themselves was incredible,” he said.
“It was a massive step for the young boys to play against such big players – there were a lot of nerves going in.
“There were players for Adelaide who played against Cristiano Ronaldo ... and people like Riki and Hassan putting goals away against those guys, it feels like a dream.”
Shaholli admitted he had one goal heading into the tournament: “to go there and get it.”
And thanks to the belief from the squad and his assistant Rahman Kutrolli, paired with a pre-match rev up from Albanian A-League legend Besart Berisha, Shaholli was able to tick off his goal.
Even lifting the cup was an experience on its own.
“The cup on its own took years to build ... it’s like a $30,000-$40,000 cup,” Shaholli said.
“It’s bloody heavy, I’ll tell you that much.”
Shaholli said he’d already fielded questions about joining his team for next year, where his aim is simple: “to go for it again.”
But for now, Shepparton Albanian Eagles are basking in the glory of making history and appreciating every person who made it possible.
“I’d like to thank all the sponsors, staff, supporters, North Sunshine Eagles for hosting and everyone who was involved,” Shaholli said.