For a match that had enjoyed multiple billings such as the  “Horsepower Challenge”, the (LOL, notorious) “Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest (#LIPAFC)” or the “I65 Cornhuskers and Tobacco Floggers Hullabaloo” (don’t know about that last one, seems it was seen written in some prestigious online journal somewhere), this match sported its fair share of memorable, meme-extending and lightning-strikes-twice moments.

The powers that be decided to schedule this at 5 PM on a hot August night/evening. Slugger Field at kick-off was a sweltering mid-90 degree cauldron. Even though things let up a little in the second half the scene had been set for a physically and emotionally, not to mention sartorially wringing affair.

The match also featured some eerie lightning-strikes-twice moments.

It took no more than into the 6th minute before the game started to heat up, as if reflexively.

Ilja Ilic, benefitting from handy set-up play by Kyle Smith and birthday boy George Davis IV, turned in the area and touched the ball inside, felt contact in a tackle and went readily to the turf. Referee Elvis Osmanivic liked the blue suede shoe work and instantly offered the hosts the lead from the penalty mark.

Brian Ownby stepped up, probably in a ploy to break his mini-drought, but his less than irresistible attempt was well parried to the right by 6’4 Indy keeper, and one time Welsh international (for a grand total of 16 minutes), Owain Fôn Williams.

This in turn set off a mad flurry of desperate stabs by Ilic, Speedy Williams (deceptively, not a Welsh international for 16 minutes) and Magnus Rasmussen, none of whom were able to avail themselves of their beckoning opportunities.

Just 10 minutes later they were made to pay when the man new/future City coach John Hackworth once lead at Philly Union, 5’9 Jack McInerney, seemed to fly like Mike to forcefully bounce home a header from a Kevin Venegas cross which had skipped through to him off the head of a surprised Paco Craig.

Neither a by-this-time head-swathed Kyle Smith (having received an elbow to the eye), Sean Totsch, nor Greg Ranjitsingh was given a chance.

Stung by this reversal, City swept back up the field, and not a minute later restored equilibrium as Magnus made ground to the left byline, fended of a partial challenge, and cut the ball across the area and back to Ilja who artfully angled himself and showed his No.10 how to find the side netting from out in front with a gorgeous one-time side foot touch.

The Boys in Purple we’re enjoying a significant possession advantage and this ought to have been the fillip needed to now take control.

Just 4 minutes on though, it was McInerney once more.

He’s fast and he finishes, and he jetted onto a through ball after a turnover on a casual touch by Paulo Del Piccolo. Totschy was able to get close enough to bump him out of kilter as he wound up, but the awkward shot only served to wrong-foot Greg, and the 139-game MLS vet had his 6th of the season.

City continued to run the game, however Indy were unlucky on the cusp of halftime as a hairline offside decision deprived Brazilian Reiner of a goal from a power header on a free kick.

Danger averted then as the teams left the pitch for the break.

The second stanza began and while the rhythm was similar, the tension was becoming palpable as the Eleven held strong and the fear began to creep in that the home lads could not create the chances they had in the first. Little mistakes were becoming pervasive and that final ball wasn’t quite making it through to where it needed to.

Right at this point, who should explode to the fore but 31st earthiversary celebrant George the 4th?!

A minute short of the hour mark, Oscar Jimenez, probing all day out on the left, found Ilja’s chest in the left area. The silky Serb took it down deftly and laid back a soft pass into the path of the substitute coach who proceeded to simply laser the the ball past the stunned one time Welshman for the equalizer and the second Triumvirate goal in two games.

2018 goal machine Cameron Lancaster came in for Ilja but didn’t show out in his 20 odd minutes.

Then shockingly, in the 72nd Kyle was adjudged to have impeded the venturesome Ukraine born midfielder, Eugene Starikov.

From no angle other than the one that matters did it appear to be penalty worthy, but to be quite objective the degree of impedance wasn’t much different from the situation leading to the City penalty early in the game.

But Elvis had made the decision and it looked as if it might be Heartbreak Hotel again for Luke Spencer’s charges.

The Starikov of the show decisively collected the ball and confidently sized up Greg and the “Scouse’s House End” goal.

He moved in and stutter-stepped to send the Trinidadian to a corner, but not only did Greg not bite, he picked the direction and made a fantastic stop low to his right, no rebound.

From here in, one might have sensed an adrenaline surge and a strong finish from the Coopers’ favorites, however aside from a close-range Paco free header hit straight at Fôn Williams, of which the London lad would dearly love a second chance at a proper finish, there were few instances when they threatened to nab all 3 points.

The match tripped into its dying minutes, and at the other end there were a pair of heart-stopping moments in which “Big Four” Totsch singlehandedly saved his brothers’ bacon, once when in a play remarkably similar to Paco’s goal last week in Ottawa, Juan Guerra got in behind, settled a beautiful chipped free kick from fellow sub Soony Saad, and turned to deliver the matador’s blow.

Sean, who had been drastically thrown off-balance, recovered miraculously and somehow stretched to deflect the shot over the crossbar.

Seconds later, Seth Moses beat Brian in a battle just inside the Louisville half and practically walked through the midfield and defense, licking his chops as he launched what surely would end up the winning goal.

But again Sean was having none of it and just got in the way to slide the ball out for a corner.

And that was all she wrote for #LIPAFC.

So, a point at home in a contest that could so easily have ended without a return for City. Individually, there were some below par efforts, notably Magnus who, aside from his fine assist, struggled mightily the rest of the evening.

Also Speedy interrupted a hitherto superlative season with a performance punctuated by too many failed connections.

Paco needed to keep it simpler, trying to be a little too clever with his outside of the foot passes.

On the up-and-up, GD IV was naturally a popular choice for the MVP, though the call could just as easily have gone to in-form , or  Ilja, due to his match-saving marvels at the death, Sean Totsch.

On to a tough one in New York next week in what will be the swan song for the terrific Triumvirate.

Go City!