Kingston, Jamaica - Dominican Republic's Club Atlético Pantoja and Jamaica's Arnett Gardens will do battle on Sunday for the FLOW Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship tile and a place in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
This after Club Atletico Pantoja edged Jamaica's Portmore United in 4-3 thriller at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston on Friday night.
The title match between the victors will kick off at 8:00 p.m. local time, with the losers to dispute third-place at 5:00 p.m.
Club Atlético Pantoja was inspired by a double brace from Luis Jose Espinal (24th & 45+1 minutes) and Cantano Eduardo (30th) and (69th).
Portmore, Jamaica Premier League Champions, rallied three times to level the scores, with top striker Jovan East scoring a brace in minutes 27 and 34.
His teammate and strike partner Jermie Lynch added his name to the scoresheet in a fighting display in the 52nd minute, but it was the Dominican Republic club that found the clincher.
Club Atletico Pantoja coach Lenin Bastidas while not totally happy with his team's overall effort, was pleased his team prevailed and remained in the hunt to repeat what fellow Dominican Republic club Cibao FC did last year.
"We came with the objective of winning but it wasn't the best game for us, but we are happy that we have qualified for the final, " he said.
Portmore head coach Shavar Thomas was disappointed his team could not find that extra gear against the organized Club Atletico Pantoja.
"At this level, you, can't make these mistakes that we made and expect to come out victorious. When you go down three times and come back three times, it is always going to be difficult to get a fourth," noted the former Jamaica captain.
In the other semi-final contest of the night, former Jamaican champion Arnett Gardens put in s solid shift to turn back former back-to-back Caribbean champions Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago 2-0.
Tamar Edwards in the 35th minute and national player Marvin Morgan put the icing on the cake in the 55th minute to set his club on course for its first regional title.
"The team applied themselves as to where the game plan was concerned. In addition to that we created so many chances that we should have put away this game as early as the first half," said Arnett coach, Jerome Waite.
Central FC coach Stern John was left forlorn by the loss.
"I have no problem in losing, but it's the manner in which you lose. We never fought for the game and Arnett Gardens came out and fought and were hungrier than us," lamented the former Soca Warrior forward.
Second- and third-place finishers in FLOW Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship will earn spots in the confederation second-tier club tournament, the Concacaf League.
The fourth-place team, meantime, will engage the Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield champion Club Franciscain of Martinique for the final Caribbean spot in the Concacaf League.
