Atletico Ottawa Triumphs in Historic Canadian Premier League Final Amid Blizzard Conditions

The Canadian Premier League final showcased an extraordinary moment dubbed the “icicle kick”—a breathtaking bicycle kick that captivated audiences amidst challenging weather conditions.

Held in Ottawa during a snowstorm with temperatures plummeting to -8°C, the match epitomized the spirit of Canadian sports. Atletico Ottawa emerged victorious, claiming their inaugural title, the North Star Cup, with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Cavalry FC from Calgary in extra time.

However, the result only scratches the surface of the drama that unfolded. The game faced multiple delays as snow was cleared from the pitch, with maintenance occurring every 15 minutes. Goalkeepers resorted to shovels to maintain their boxes, and the conditions became almost unplayable in the second half, necessitating the intervention of a snowplough before extra-time commenced.

Cavalry’s Fraser Aird, a former Rangers midfielder, opened the scoring by converting a penalty in the 33rd minute. He celebrated his goal with a knee slide on the snow, only to be bombarded with snowballs from the home supporters.

Seven minutes later, 23-year-old David Rodriguez produced a moment of brilliance, leveling the match with an acrobatic strike that hit the underside of the crossbar. He went on to secure the victory for Atletico with a deft chip over Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci in the 107th minute, making history as the first player to score twice in a Canadian Premier League final.

Rodriguez, originally from Mexico, shared his excitement, stating he had “zero” experience before joining the team in February. “I came to the 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 reflected on the surreal nature of the night, saying, “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.”

Founded in 2020, Atletico Ottawa is affiliated with the Spanish club Atletico Madrid, and the Canadian Premier League itself was inaugurated in 2017. This match certainly highlighted the league’s growing importance in North American soccer.

In a nod to the festive spirit, even Santa Claus appeared to make a special visit to the match, taking a break from his pre-Christmas preparations.

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