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Atlético Ottawa captured its first Canadian Premier League title with a 2-1 overtime thriller over Calgary-based Cavalry in a chilly November thriller.
David Rodriguez won the matchr in the 106th minute – his second of the evening – on a pitch that had just been cleared of heavy snow after full time ended without any decision.
Both sides battled the conditions in Ottawa as much as they did each other on Sunday night as the battle for the North Star Cup took place. during a mid-November snowstorm in the nation's capital.
The start of the game was delayed due to snow. Crew members spent the night clearing lines at TD Place with snowblowers and shovels, with players occasionally helping them out.
Meanwhile, fans braving the cold in Ottawa were warned not to throw snowballs onto the field.
Cavalry FC started to score when Fraser Aird converted the penalty in the 32nd minute, but Rodriguez equalized with an awesome bike kick a few minutes later.
After the first 90 minutes, the teams spent almost an hour clearing the field of snow, which interfered with passes and limited scoring opportunities throughout the evening.
Midway through overtime, Rodriguez took a long pass from Manny Aparicio and fired past Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci for his second goal.
In the final minutes, the Cavalry tried valiantly to level the score, but the Ottawa defense held firm. When the final whistle blew, the crowd, despite the bad weather still large, erupted in ecstasy.
“This night was my night”
Speaking to CBC on the field after the game, Rodriguez called it a game he'll never forget.
He also said he was looking forward to celebrating the win with his teammates in a much warmer locker room.
“This night was my night… I’m just happy with the coaches, my teammates. [It's] incredible,” Rodriguez said.
Atlético have only reached the final once before, in 2022, when they lost to Hamilton-based Forge.
Cavalry FC won the North Star Cup in 2024 and were attempting to repeat as league champions.
