Liga Panameña de Fútbol round-up: Plaza Amador to meet Universitario in the final

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Plaza Amador score in 95th minute to reach final

Plaza Amador will meet Deportivo Universitario in the Liga Panameña de Fútbol Apertura play-off final after both sides progressed in dramatic circumstances.

The match

In an extraordinary spell of stoppage time, Samir Ramirez headed in from a free-kick in the 95th minute to send the Amador fans into raptures and spark incredible scenes at the Estadio Maracaná de Panamá.

The goal sent Jorge Dely Valdés’s side to the final, cancelling out a goal by Alexis Corpas Jordan for Sporting San Miguelito that levelled the aggregate scores in the 91st minute.

Plaza Amador won the first leg 1-0 and went into the second leg as strong favourites with the home advantage.

They looked to have managed the game effectively, until Corpas slotted home after a smart pull-back. The game looked destined to go to extra-time but a free-kick was nodded home into the far corner by Ramirez.

Universitario score twice in extra-time

In the other semi-final, between Deportivo Universitario and Veraguas, there was also drama aplenty as the game went to extra-time, following the second successive 0-0 draw in the tie.

The first-half was tense and without many clear-cut chances, but the game opened up in the second-half with the hosts piling on the pressure. Aldair Arnedo was forced into action and made some key saves.

The match went to extra-time and Universitario finally broke the deadlock in the 108th minute. From an out-swinging corner, defender Ivan Anderson powered in a header to put his side in the lead.

Three minutes later, after a neat one-two, Carlos Zuniga bent a shot into the far corner to kill the tie and confirm Universitario’s place in the final.

There were celebratory scenes at the full-time whistle as Gary Stempel’s side reached the final.

The final

The final pits the two sides who finished top of their Apertura groups. Universitario finished with 30 points from 16 games, while Plaza Amador finished with 27 points. The match is on Saturday 29th May.

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