The stunning goal that prompted fans to go shirtless ... in a blizzard

Canadian Premier League soccer does not normally garner much attention, even in Canada. Only seven seasons old, the competition does not feature any regular Canada internationals, let alone stars from elsewhere. But this season’s final has gone global, becoming a social media viral hit due to the combination of wild weather and an amazing goal.

The match-up between Atletico Ottawa, an offshoot of Spanish giant Atletico Madrid, and Cavalry FC was played amid a raging blizzard in temperatures of minus 8 degrees, prompting extraordinary scenes.

Breaks in play were required every 15 minutes, during which the goalkeepers used snow shovels to help ground staff clear the lines.

With the match 1-1 after 90 minutes an hour’s delay ensued while a fleet of snowploughs cleared the pitch – which fortunately was an artificial surface.

And some of the 13,000 patient spectators in Ottawa wore snow goggles.

Despite the conditions there was also a superb overhead kick goal, dubbed “the icicle kick”, by Mexican David Rodriguez.

That cancelled-out a penalty by former Glasgow Rangers player Fraser Aird, playing in short sleeves, who celebrated with a snowy knee slide.

Rodriguez scored his breathtaking equaliser seven minutes later, his acrobatic shot thundering in off the underside of the bar.

In the 107th-minute it was Rodriguez to the fore again, securing the title by chipping a long ball over Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci to seal his place in Canadian soccer history.

“I came to the locker room and I was excited. I saw it was snowing, and I was like, ‘It’s going to be a good day,’” Rodriguez told reporters.

Cavalry veteran Sergio Camargo said the snowstorm made for conditions unlike anything he had experienced.

“I had experience playing in snow in my college years,” Camargo said.

“But nothing like that, where the snow was that thick and that difficult to dribble and manipulate the ball.

“It was the factor for both teams, so not an excuse. Just another addition to what was a very memorable final.”

New Zealand international striker Monty Patterson, who joined Atletico earlier this year, came off the bench for the winners, who finished runners-up to Hamilton-based Forge in the regular season with Cavalry third.

AAP

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