Atlético Ottawa top Cavalry FC in driving snowstorm to win 1st ever CPL title

Atlético Ottawa have claimed their first ever Canadian Premier League title, winning a chilly November thriller 2-1 in extra time over Calgary-based Cavalry FC.

David Rodriguez scored the game winner — his second of the night — on a pitch that had just been cleared of copious amounts of snow after regulation time ended with nothing decided.

The two sides fought the conditions in Ottawa as much as each other Sunday night, with the final taking place amid a mid-November snowstorm in the nation's capital. 

The start of the game was delayed due to the snow. Crewmembers used snowblowers and shovels throughout the night to clear the lines at TD Place, with players occasionally pitching in to help.

Fans who braved the Ottawa cold, meanwhile, were warned to not hurl snowballs on the field.

Cavalry FC got the scoring underway when Fraser Aird netted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute, but Rodriguez tied things up with a stunning bicycle kick a few minutes later.

After the first 90 minutes, crews spent almost an hour clearing the field of the snow that hampered passes and limited scoring opportunities throughout the evening.

Cavalry FC won the North Star Cup in 2024 and were trying to repeat as league champions.