LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest (LIPAFC), the derby contested between the Indy Eleven and Louisville City FC, tends to bring out the best in both clubs and supporters’ groups in terms of smack talk. And while the Eleven got served up properly on the pitch in Saturday’s 4-1 playoff loss at Louisville Slugger Field, Indy figuratively picked up three points in the banter table.

Prior to the match, an aerial sign was flown over the stadium and tailgate area that read “LCFC (hearts) Nickelback -XI- #LIPAFC.” The oft-dissed Canadian band’s abilities have become a can’t-miss joke over the years, and the visitors couldn’t resist dialing up the classic zinger. Here’s another view:

The best part about the stunt? It wasn’t done by a crazed, lone-wolf supporter with too much time on his or her hands. Nope. The troll was actually coordinated by the club itself, serving as a cheeky investment in the blossoming rivalry that fans would sarcastically have you believe has existed since the beginning of time.

Another hilarious subplot to the stunt is that it was supposed to go down the previous weekend when LouCity and the Eleven met in the final week of the regular season, per a team official. But with the pilot apparently backlogged, the plane and sign never took to the sky above Louisville Slugger Field, and the company gave the team no advanced warning. LCFC grabbed a 1-0 result that evening.

When things shook out such that Indy would immediately return to Louisville for the first round of the playoffs, it was “game on” once again for the trolling — after a discount had been negotiated with the company for dropping the ball the previous Saturday, that is.

With Cincinnati and Nashville departing the USL in 2019 and 2020, respectively, why not try to grow the burgeoning LIPAFC into the biggest Midwest matchup in all of lower-division soccer? A healthy and perpetual dose of good-natured banter is certainly one way to do it.

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.

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