Mexico captures 13th CU20 crown
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica -- Mexico outlasted Panama 4-2 on penalty kicks to capture the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship after their final ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
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Goalkeeper Jose Gonzalez made two saves in the shootout, denying Edson Samms and Carlos Small on Panama's two final shots of the tiebreaker.
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Guillermo Martinez, Alejandro Diaz, Erick Aguirre and Jose Robles converted their penalties for the Mexicans.  Ismael Diaz and Fidel Escobar put their attempts away for the Panamanians.
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Since both teams had already secured places in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, region bragging rights and a trophy were the prizes at stake.
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Mexico drew first blood in the 50th minute, when Oscar Bernal failed to head a corner kick on goal.  The ball went to Martinez, who beat goalkeeper Jaime de Garcia with a header of his own to the right post for a 1-0 advantage.  It was the first goal Panama had conceded in the tournament, snapping a 500-minute shutout streak.
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The Canaleros equalized on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute after Bernal knocked down Diaz in the penalty area.  Escobar converted the ensuing penalty kick past Gonzalez for his first goal of the competition.
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Both goalkeepers were sharp as they produced vital saves to keep their respective sides in the match.
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The Tricolor had the first opportunity in the 19th minute, when Martinez banged a shot off the right post from the middle of the box.
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Gonzalez thwarted Samms in the 55th minute, before Escobar hit the crossbar from distance two minutes later.Â
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The Panamanians continued to test Gonzalez from distance.  Luis Pereira fired a shot that hit the ground and deflected off the right post in the 70th minute.
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De Gracia made a spectacular kick save on Martinez in the 78th minute and stopped an on-rushing Diaz at point-blank range two minutes into regulation stoppage time.
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NOTES: Mexico won its third straight CONCACAF Under-20 Championship title and a record-extending 13th overall.