Kingston, Jamaica - Club Atlético Pantoja maintained the regional dominance of Dominican Republic clubs when it was crowned champion of the FLOW Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship.
In the final at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston on Sunday night, Pantoja became the second-straight Dominican Republic team to lift the title by denying hosts Arnett Gardens 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
Both clubs had played to a 0-0 scoreline after regulation time and went straight to the dreaded penalties to break the deadlock.
In the penalty lottery, Jean Lopez, Nicholas Rebollo, Eduardo Centeno, Jesus Quintero, Carlos Russell and goal-keeper Odalis Baez found the mark for Pantoja.
Armando Maita missed the fifth kick for the victors.
Perfect from the 12-yard spot for Arnett were Lennox Russell, Newton Sterling, Al Nesbeth, Jabeur Johnson and Jarmar Martin, while top striker Fabian Reid missed.
Pantoja follows in the footsteps of Cibao FC of Caribbean club glory as the latter lifted the 2017 title and competed in this year's Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
With the victory, Pantoja has earned automatic qualification to the prestigious Concacaf Champions League, the confederation's flagship club tournament.
Arnett, meantime, will contest the second tier Concacaf League.
In the Sunday's third-place play-off between former champions, Jamaica's Portmore United edged Trinidad and Tobago's Central FC 2-1.
Rosario Harriott (59th minutes) and Jermie Lynch (63rd) hit the mark for Portmore, while Duane Muckette (27th) found Central FC's consolation.
Based on the number of chances created in the title match, Arnett Gardens should have settled the argument in free-flow action, but attacking players were found wanting on the night.
Arnett's Al Nesbeth had one of those chances but watched as his long-range scorcher was expertly parried by Baez in the Pantoja goal.
Other good chances for the home team came on both sides of the break as substitute Jarmar Jackson, Fabian Reid and the speedy Lennox Reid had glaring misses.
Portmore, like Arnett, will compete in the Concacaf League. Central FC, for its part, will engage Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield champion Club Franciscain of Martinique for the final Caribbean spot in the Concacaf League.
Pantoja booked its spot into Sunday's final by defeating Portmore 4-3 on Friday, while Arnett blanked Central FC 2-0.
