New York Cosmos

(The Pitch Bitch, episode 5 … the beginning of the great multimedia experiment)

Smoke hovers over the field following Indy’s second goal (a Don Smart assist finished by Eamon Zayed) against the New York Cosmos on Oct. 7, 2017. (Photo by Rebecca Townsend)

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 8, 20717) — Among the most dramatic storylines in the history of Indy Eleven: Which team would first earn a win — Indy or the New York Cosmos — after the first six meetings (all 2014 and 2015 games) resulted in draws.

And though the sting will always remain for Indy of losing the 2016 championship to the Cosmos (in penalty kicks), Indy will forever have the glory of being the first to claim a victory in the match up (Eamon Zayed bagged two goals in a thrill-packed 2:1 home win April 16, 2016). And some of the best goals in the North American Soccer League have come as Indy and New York players have scrambled to protect team honor — or earn bragging rights.

Last night’s match was no exception. Beautiful goals all around for a 2:2 finish.

Thanks to Indy Eleven and the North American Soccer League for this highlight video:

In the East End Goal stands, the Pitch Bitch launched a new multimedia experiment. GoPro video will enable some cool new features, but the Pitch Bitch is issuing a formal apology to Don Smart, who scored the first goal of the evening last night — and delivered it at the perfect angle for us to see. His perfect goal came so quickly that our audio/visual skills could not engage the equipment in time to capture the beauty of his triumph (streaking up the right flank he released a shot that hooked just under crossbar and into the far side of the net). Here, however, here is the aftermath: (Warning: The Pitch Bitch is a screamer)

There are risks involved in being creative — sometimes they don’t pay off. This Indy freekick, for example, failed to flummox the Cosmos:

Brad Ring, here’s our gut reaction to your most egregious foul of the evening:

Eamon Zayed was breathing down Cosmos keeper Jimmy Maurer’s throat — and came close — twice in short succession — to stuffing the ball in the back of the net:

And just for fun, some pre-game bonding:

: The world blurs around Erick Norales’s son’s smile post-game in Indy Saturday night.

: “Das Boot” in front of the Brickyard Battalion at the Indy Eleven home opener.

: Dylan Mares, an

: Indy’s Kleberson, a member of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning team, is nursing muscle tightness. He supported his team from the bench during the opener, but was dressed and ready just in case circumstances called for an emergency showing. (Let’s hope our champion finds some decent massage practitioners to give him a hand — or two — to put his muscles woes behind him.)

: The German born and bred goalie Kristian Nicht distributes the ball during the first half. Nicht’s nimble net minding enabled Indy to withstand New York’s attacking barrage.

: Slaughterhouse 19 organizer extraordinaire Peter Evans leads the Brickyard Battalion in chants of Illuminati after a call they question by a match official.

: Nicht is able to deflect a header from New York defender Rovérsio.

: A celebratory smoke illustrating the home crowd’s great excitement at the debut of Jamaica’s Brian Brown, who scored for them in the 12th minute by punishing New York’s keeper. Here’s Indy Eleven’s game recap: Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer wandered five yards out of his penalty area to head away a through ball, but his clearance made it only as far as Brown, as the Jamaican took a touch before looping a ball inside the right post and into the empty net from 30 yards out.

: A goal earns Brian Brown a pat on the back from Head Coach Juergen Sommer.

: Indy Eleven team members celebrate putting the first goal on the scoreboard during their home opener of the 2015 season.

: Spanish superstar Raúl brought his telltale flair to the game. Here, Indy defender Greg Janicki, a Michigan native, will survive the pressure, but later a perfectly played header will prove the former Real Madrid player was the investment for New York as he forces Indy to settle for a tie. Last season, the Cosmos tied the Eleven three times. In the first two matches of last season, New York scored within the first 10 minutes. Nice change of pace for Indy to get on early in 2015.

: Indy players warm up with a little classic 2 v 5.

: The New York Cosmos warm up their sprinting muscles.

: New York’s superstars Marcos Senna and Raúl warming up pre-game.

Enjoy these highlights of an exciting home opener for Indy Eleven Pro Soccer’s 2015 season in the North American Soccer League.

The storied New York Cosmos brought heavy offensive firepower, including Raúl, a legendary Real Madrid player, and Marcos Senna, a star from La Liga’s Villarreal club. The talent ran much deeper than the marquee with the Cosmos presenting a united and constant threat to Indy, dominating about 60 percent of possession.

Player of the game: Newcomer Brian Brown for putting Indy on the board — an excellent message to send to New York and all his new fans. Jamaican soccer? Yes, please! Indiana can work with that!

Honorable mention: Kristian Nicht. Without him, Indy would not have walked away from this match with a tie. Truly some excellent saves from our German friend.

Really, though. Honorable mention to everyone! How great to see the team emerge this evening after the evolution of this past year. Last year at this time, the roster was nowhere near complete and six members of the team were rookies. This year, a team of pro veterans stepped to the field, a team that is showing promising signs of continued creativity and chemistry.

Keeping the world posted on “the experiment,” as Kléberson first termed Indy’s pro soccer operation, is an honor and a duty for this player/coach/fan/analyst.

Expect to find a barrage of tasty soccer treats posted here — and perhaps in conjunction with some exciting new friends — as the season progresses.

Yours truly in the beautiful game,

Rebecca Townsend