It was a championship clash for the ages and one that will be remembered as much for the snow as for the soccer. Atlético Ottawa braved a winter storm and a fierce Cavalry FC side to capture the 2025 Canadian Premier League title in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory at TD Place on Sunday night.

The match took place in relentless snowfall and bitter -8°C conditions that blanketed the pitch and turned the CPL final into a frozen spectacle.

Fans hurled snowballs from the stands; players trudged through drifts that reached their ankles. After a 60-minute delay following regulation time to plow the field, the stage was set for an unforgettable finish, and Atlético seized the moment.

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What happened during the match?

Cavalry opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after Alex dos Santos tripped Goteh Ntignee in the box. Fraser Aird confidently converted the penalty. The goal appeared a good omen for the Calgary club, which had not lost in 36 matches after taking a 1-0 lead since early 2024.

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But seven minutes later, Atlético responded with a moment of brilliance. As the ball ricocheted around in the penalty area, David Rodríguez launched a spectacular bicycle kick, an equaliser made all the more astonishing by the swirling snow and icy footing.

The deadlock persisted through regulation, forcing extra time and with ten minutes remaining, Rodríguez struck again. Racing onto a long ball down the left side, he beat Cavalry keeper Marco Carducci to the bounce and deftly chipped it over the sliding captain. The ball nestled into the net as Rodríguez celebrated in a snowbank, sealing the title for Ottawa.

Cavalry pushed forward in the dying moments, but Atlético’s defence stood tall. When the final whistle blew, the home crowd erupted as Ottawa claimed its first-ever North Star Cup.

‘How will they play in such weather?’

Netizens posted about the freezing weather and the match on social media platform, X. A user noted, “How will they play in such weather?.” Another claimed, “They’re not from sugar. They won’t melt.” “Looks pretty warm out there. Hope they were careful to avoid heat stroke,” joked a user. “This is one of the reasons you build your stadium with a roof,” criticised a netizen. “A Snowy and rainy country should always consider building covered stadiums,” added a user.