[DIGICEL UNCAF CUP] Panama broke Costa Rica's streak of three straight Central American championships when it beat the Ticos, 5-3, on penalty kicks in Sunday's final of the 2009 Digicel Uncaf Cup.
The final, played in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, ended in a 0-0 tie after regulation.
Costa Rica's Paolo Jimenez was the only player to miss a penalty kick. Panama's win was revenge for its 3-0 loss to Costa Rica in group play.
El Salvador's poor showing resulted in Mexican coach Carlos de los Cobos being fired just 10 days before the start of the Hexagonal.
Nicaragua qualified for the Gold Cup for the first time when it beat Guatemala, 2-0, in the fifth-place game.
The loss was the third in three games for the Chapines, whose coach Benjamin Monterroso, quit after the game. He had only replaced Honduran Ramon Maradiaga three months ago.
2009 GOLD CUP
USA
Canada
Mexico
Jamaica
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Cuba
Costa Rica
Panama
Honduras
El Salvador
Nicaragua