May 27, 2023
The Liga Panameña de Fútbol ( LPF ) is the highest level of football in Panama, although unlike other countries in Central America, the season in Panama runs throughout the calendar year. However, like nearly other country in the region they operate under the Apertura and Clausura systems.
The LPF consists of 12 teams, which are divided into two Conferences, namely Eastern and Western, based on the geographical location of the club. Generally, the sides located in Panama City or Colon on the Panama Canal are in the Eastern Conference with the others in the Western Conference.
In each tournament, each team plays every other team in its Conference twice, once home and away, and once against each team from the other Conference for a 16-game regular season. The top three sides in each Conference qualify for the play-offs.
In the first round of the play-offs, the second placed teams play the 3rd placed teams in the other conference in one-off matches, with the winners progressing to two legged semi-finals against the Conference winners. The championship final is then a one-off match, supposedly at a neutral venue.
In the 2023 Apertura competition, Sporting San Miguelito, who were featured in these diaries for their 2022 Concacaf League encounter against Guatemalan side Club Deportivo Malacateco, finished top of the Eastern Conference, with Club Atletico Independiente from La Chorerra heading the Western Conference. Independiente are often abbreviated to CAI.
In the play-offs, Tauro, who finished third in the Eastern Conference, won 2-1 at Herrera to then face Sporting San Miguelito, and beat them 2-1 in both legs to reach the Apertura final.
In the other play-offs, Plaza Amador, who finished second in the Eastern Conference hammered Deportivo Universitario 6-0, but then lost 1-3 in the second leg to Independiente after a 0-0 home draw in the first leg.
The final was played in the 32,000 capacity Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, which is where the national team usually plays its home matches, and is also the home ground of Tauro. Its grass pitch looked in good condition but cut-up a little during the game.
With 16 titles, Tauro are one of the most successful sides in Panama, and play in black and white strips in honour of Juventus, who were the favourite side of its founder. Their nickname is The Bulls.
Club Atletico Independiente were formed in 1982 in the town of La Chorerra, 65km south-west of the capital, with a population of an estimated 160,000, compared to 2M of the capital Panama City. They won their first title in 2018 and had since won three more, including the 2022 Clausura title. Their nickname is The Vikings.
The notable players in the Tauro squad were striker Miguel Camargo ( 32 caps ) who has also played in Colombia, USA and Venezuela, midfielders Roland Botello ( 9 caps ), Victor Medina ( 4 caps ) and Irving Gudino ( 4 caps ), centre-back Jan Vargas ( 11 caps ) and left-back Francisco Vence ( 1 cap ).
In comparison, Independiente were relatively starved of international experience, with their most capped player, centre-back Gilberto Hernandez having just 2 caps, with Jorge Serrano, Uziez Maltez and Luis Fields proud holders of one cap each.
Despite playing in their own stadium, the bookies made Tauro 13/5 outsiders, with Independiente at evens and the draw at 2/1. The game was streamed live on the Deportes RPC channel on YouTube with the usual excitable Latin American commentary !
Tauro were playing in a predominately all white kit with Independiente in mostly all black despite their supporters being dressed in Yellow.
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Unusually, both teams went to applaud their supporters before the kick-off, which was 19.00 local time ( 1am UK ). The temperature was around 25 degrees.
Tauro forced an early corner but it was well defended and from the goal-kick Independiente created the first goal of the match. A long ball out of defence by Montenegro went over the head of Vence, releasing Serrano released down the right. He sent a dangerous cross into mixer but with no attackers nearby, Tauro centre-back Gerardo Negrete stretched out to intercept, but could only divert the ball past his own keeper. 1-0 to CAI with less than 2 minutes played.
The game’s main piece of comedy defending occurred in the 7th minute. Independiente’s Gabriel Hernandez’s attempted left-footed clearance went over his own head and off for a corner.
A minute later a smart pass by Contreras looked to have given Cardenas a run at the Tauro goal but Gudino showed impressive pace to get back and make an important tackle.
The opening stages were fast paced. Tauro were attempting to play short passes with movement off the ball but CAI were not afraid to mix it up and play it long. There was none of this taking goal kicks and passing within their own area inviting teams to press.
The tall Luis Fields caught the eye in central midfield pivot role for Independiente, being difficult to dispossess, always being available to take a pass, and not wasting any of his passes. His play reminded me a little of Czech Tomas Soucek.
With 16 minutes played, Serrano played a hopeful high flick from edge of the area, which was needlessly tipped over the bar by Tauro keeper Celino Hinojosa for a corner.
More dodgy keeping from the Tauro custodian followed in 21st minute. First, he made a one-handed push to clear a corner, and when the ball was lobbed back into the Tauro area, Hinojosa under no pressure had an easy catch to make but inexplicably decided to make a two fisted punch, which looped high to the edge of the area. Contreras outjumped his marker but his header went a couple of feet wide, although there were two defenders covering had it been on target.
Slightly against the run of play, Tauro equalised in the 27th minute. CAI keeper Roberts clawed away Camargo’s free-kick that was sneaking in to the top corner of the net and the subsequent corner wasn’t dealt with effectively by the Independiente defence. Vargas lifted the ball back towards the 6 yard box, Negrete’s attempt to control saw the ball run off his leg towards Colombian Breidy Goluz, who lashed a shot from around 12 yards. Roberts looked to have it covered but the ball struck the body of Davis attempting to make a block and diverted into the opposite side of the goal. Cue fireworks from the home supporters.
The referee was allowing some strong challenges to go unpunished and was not being conned by the occasional dive, trying to let the play flow at every opportunity. There was not much rolling around on the floor and generally the game was played in a sporting manner, with opponents helping players up from the flow. They clearly have a lot to learn before they are ready to play in one of the top leagues in Europe !
Tauro then enjoyed a good short spell of pressure. Camargo pounced on a charged down clearance but after spinning past his marker, blazed over from an acute angle, then the very left-footed Vence cut back inside on the left and crossed right footed, but the diving header by Carlos Hernandez from about 15 yards went a couple of feet wide.
With 39 minutes gone Roberts attempted to clear a back-pass but the leaping Camargo charged it down but the keeper’s blushes were spared as the ball rolled wide of the empty goal.
The scores were level at half-time, where the entertainment for the crowd was a marching band !
Independiente made two changes at half time and the start of the second period was a lot more cagey.
The Bulls forced a corner in the 51st minute corner. Vargas ran to angle of 6-yard box to meet the delivery from Camargo, but under pressure, his header went a yard or so wide.
Shortly after a threaded through ball gave Camargo the opportunity to run towards the CAI area but he was brought down by Hernandez for a yellow card. Botello’s 30 free-kick was weak but took a slight deflection for a corner.
Independiente’s response was a delightful ball by Fields to put Valverde in space inside the Tauro area, but the substitute was crowded out and failed to even win a corner.
Tauro’s Botello had a nervous moment in the 63rd minute. Having already been booked in the first half, Avila’s attempted through ball struck him on the arm from close quarters but the referee, who had a good game throughout, sensibly kept his cards in his pocket. From the free-kick taken by Avila, a glancing header from Ramirez bounced wide.
Independiente made another double substitution in the 73rd minute and it seemed to have the desired effect as they re-took the lead 4 minutes later. Again, the source was Serrano, whose cross from the right was met by Avila 6 yards out to sweep on the half-volley into the roof of the net.
Tauro substitute Peralta, with the name Choco on the back of his shirt, then shot into side netting but it was always going wide and keeper had it covered anyway.
The closing stages were frantic as the game moved from end to end. A sweeping CAI move put Valverde free inside area but with just Hinojosa to beat, his left-footed shot hit the knee of the keeper and went off for corner when he really should have scored. A long-ball out of the Independiente half put Stewart in space but his first time left footed effort was wild and went well wide.
A Tauro in-swinging free-kick was punched away from under his bar by Roberts then another hoof from the Independiente defence was gathered by Serrano on the left-hand side of the field and he was able to make ground to just inside the Tauro area, cut-back onto his right footed but fired just over.
At the other end, with a minute remaining a Navaz shot on the turn was blocked, but it was always going wide.
As smoke from the Independiente fans started to obscure the view, Serrano dispossessed Asprilla, but the defender recovered to make a timely tackle before the winger could take aim. As the clock ticked into the red zone, Serrano this time robbed Gudino on the left, played the ball into area to Avila, who pulled back for Valverde to rifle into the roof of the net from 15 yards to seal the Apertura title for The Vikings.
Overall, this was an enjoyable game to watch from the point of view of a neutral, and in Jorge Serrano and Luis Fields, Independiente had the two best players on the day. Independiente have now won consecutive titles, which is apparently the first time this has happened since 2016.
Tauro FC : Hinojosa – Asprilla, Negrete, Vargas, Vence – Gudino, Botello, Hernandez – Medina, Goluz ( Navas ), Camargo ( Peralta )
CA Independiente : Roberts – Montenegro ( Avila ), Ramirez, Hernandez, Davis – Serrano ( Modelo ), Hurtado, Aguilla, Fields ( Maltez ), Contreras ( Valverde ) – Cardenas ( Stewart )
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