Felipe Baloy (center) lifts the trophy after Tauro FC defeated Arabe Unido in the Panamanian Clausura final on May 27, 2017, in Panama City, Panama. (Photo courtesy of Federación Panameña de Fútbol)
PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Tauro FC captured its 13th Panamanian League title with a dramatic 1-0 win over defending champion Arabe Unido in the 2017 Clausura final on Saturday night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
With the triumph, Tauro earned Panama’s only automatic berth in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) by virtue of having the best combined regular-season record of the year’s two champions. Arabe Unido, which won the 2016 Apertura and reached the 2016/17 SCCL quarterfinals, will participate in the first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF League that kicks off in August.
The game’s only goal was scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, when Marcos Sanchez burst into the left side of the Arabe Unido box and – as trio of defenders turned their attention in his direction – found an unmarked Armando Polo, who slotted a left-footed shot into the back of the net from 13-yards out.
Tauro finished the season unbeaten in its last six games (4W-2D-0L) and conceded one goal or less in its last 14 outings.
