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 offshot of Spanish giant Atletico Madrid, and Cavalry FC was played amid a raging blizzard in temperatures of -8C 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.
