Welcome to the Classic Championship Game of the Day, where today we look back at one of the key games in the race for the 2018 USL Championship Playoffs, as Indy Eleven played host to North Carolina FC at Lucas Oil Stadium.

In its first season in the Championship, Indy had re-established itself as a playoff contender after an up-and-down start that came in part due to a largely new squad assembled by Head Coach Martin Rennie. The side sat on 32 points going into the game after picking up four points from the final two games of a four-game road trip prior to welcoming North Carolina to town.

NCFC’s playoff chances were looking much improved from a slow start to the season, meanwhile, as the side had reeled off a six-game undefeated streak that included a 2-0 win on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in its most recent outing. But the pressure was still on for North Carolina to maintain that form as it still sat below the playoff line, two points behind Indy having played a game more than the Eleven. A defeat would be a serious setback to the good work that had come prior.

The scene is set, so sit back, relax and enjoy a classic clash from the Championship’s history.