Just as happened with the U-20 team, at the past Central American Games in Guatemala, Panama once again fell in a final against Costa Rica on penalties. In the first half of the game, Ernesto Gómez had one of Panama's first dangerous attacks, but his shot went wide in the 15th minute. This was the second consecutive time that coach Felipe Baloy has lost a final to Costa Rica via penalties, first with the U-20 team in Guatemala and now with the U-19 team at home. In the final minutes of the match, Panama had the opportunity to score, but Mihajir Jiménez was ineffective and his shot hit the side of the right post of the Costa Rican goalkeeper's net. Panama became the runner-up of the FIFA Forward UNCAF Tournament for the U-19 Male category after losing the Final to Costa Rica in the penalty shootout 4-3. The tournament took place for a week in the city of Panama. The final match was a back-and-forth for both teams in regulation time, but neither Panama nor Costa Rica could score a goal that would have made the difference, so they had to go to a penalty shootout to decide the championship, with Costa Rica winning 4-3. Panama qualified for the final undefeated in the group stage of this tournament with three wins. The national team, which was in Group A of the tournament, opened the competition by winning 2-0 against Cuba, while in their second match they defeated Nicaragua 1-0. In the third match, against Honduras for the leadership of Group A and a place in the final, they won 3-0. Panama lost the final of the UNCAF FIFA Forward U-19 tournament to Costa Rica. In the match, which ended 0-0, the Ticos were more effective in the penalty shootout and won 3-4 to take the regional title. In the second half, Costa Rican captain Dax Palmer had a clear chance to score, but the post denied him in the 50th minute. "We keep working," said "Pipe" who lamented losing both finals to the Ticos.
