A stunning bicycle kick, dubbed the “icicle kick,” stole the spotlight during the Canadian Premier League final held in Ottawa amidst a blizzard. The match, played in frigid temperatures of -8°C, showcased the resilience and spirit of Canadian football. Atletico Ottawa claimed their inaugural title, the North Star Cup, with a 2-1 victory over Calgary’s Cavalry FC after extra time. However, this outcome is just part of the tale. The game faced multiple delays as snow was continuously cleared from the pitch, with officials resetting the lines every 15 minutes and goalkeepers using shovels to maintain their respective areas. Conditions became nearly unplayable in the second half, necessitating the intervention of a snowplough before extra time commenced. Cavalry FC took an early lead with a penalty scored by former Rangers midfielder Fraser Aird in the 33rd minute. Aird celebrated with a knee slide through the snow, only to be met with a barrage of snowballs from enthusiastic home supporters. The match’s turning point came seven minutes later with a spectacular goal from 23-year-old David Rodriguez, who leveled the score with an acrobatic bicycle kick that struck the underside of the crossbar. Rodriguez later secured the victory for Atletico in the 107th minute with a deft chip over Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci. Rodriguez, a Mexican native, expressed his enthusiasm for the match despite having “zero” prior experience before joining Atletico in February. “I came to a locker room and I was excited. I saw it was snowing, and I was like, ‘it’s gonna be a good day,'” he remarked. Atletico goalkeeper Nathan Ingham shared his disbelief about the night’s events, stating, “The whole night feels fake. You play us in sand, you play us in snow, you play us on the moon, this team is going to win.” The Canadian Premier League was established in 2017, while Atletico Ottawa, a franchise of Spain’s Atletico Madrid, was founded in 2020. Notably, David Rodriguez became the first player to score twice in a Canadian Premier League final. Amidst the snow, even Santa Claus appeared to take a break from his pre-Christmas preparations to attend the match in Ottawa. Post navigation Highlights from the Latest Women’s Super League Matches Romeo Lavia Faces Extended Absence Due to Quadriceps Injury
