CATHERINE HALL, St James — It was a lucky 13 for Mexico, who outlasted Panama 4-2 on penalty kicks to win a third straight CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 title at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Saturday night.

The teams had played out a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, thanks to some fantastic goalkeeping from both custodians.

It was an epic battle between two outstanding and well prepared teams who delighted the 3,000 plus crowd in a game befitting the climax of two weeks of football. Over 100 Mexicans, many wearing sombreros and singing loudly, were in the crowd which was equally split cheering for either side.

Having already qualified for the FIFA World Cup to be held in New Zealand in May-June this year, both teams were playing for regional pride after USA and Honduras had secured the other two places earlier in the day. The USA beat El Salvador 2-0 for third place, while Honduras outlasted Guatemala 2-1.

Mexico’s goalkeeper Joe Gonzales save Panama’s third and fourth penalty kicks, as Mexico scored their first four to preserve the victory in the shoot-out.

Guillermo Martinez, Alejandro Diaz, Erick Auguirre and Jose Robles all scored penalties for Mexico. Ismael Diaz and Fidel Escobar scored for Panama, while Gonzales saved shots from Edson Samms and Carlos Small.

Mexico drew first blood when the giant forward Martinez headed powerfully from about six yards out in the 50th minute, as Panama conceded their first goal of the tournament after holding opponents for over five and half games or 500 minutes.

Panama drew level in the 73rd minute when Escobar converted a penalty kick after Ismael Diaz was bundled over in the area by Mexican defender Oscar Bernal.

The teams had virtually cancelled each other out in the first half, each creating few chances, but Mexico came closest with Diaz hitting the base of the right-hand post early in the game.

The tempo increased as did the noise in the stadium after Martinez headed Mexico in the lead. Panama hit back with several chances, but poor finishing and Gonzales denied them.

Ismael Diaz dragged a shot wide in the 55th minute and two minutes later Gonzales went full stretch, low to his left to block a shot.

It was Panama’s goalkeeper Jaime

De Gracia’s time to show off his skills, when he used his knees in the 59th minute to deny Hirvin Lozano after a fast counter had exposed the Panama defence.

Luis Perriera tested Gonzales in the 71st minute with a shot from about 30 yards that curled towards the top left-hand corner of the goal, but the Mexican goalkeeper got to it.

In the 79th minute Martinez showed off some skills not normally associated with a player of his size, flicking the ball over the heads of two defenders, putting it on his chest

before executing an overhead shot that was saved by De Gracia.

The Panama goalkeeper came up big in time added at the end of the second half, when he used his foot to deflect a ball after the Panama defence was breached by a two-on-one with Lozano shooting at what he thought was a wide open goal.

Panama had the best chance to score in extra, time but Gonzalez stuck out a left glove to block a low shot from Ismael Diaz in the 105th minute.

Late in the second half De Gracia went full stretch to his right to parry a shot around the post for a corner.