Late last week, the Dominican Football League celebrated the last round of matches to decide the playoff picture. In the current format there are 10 teams playing for six positions in the final phase called the “liguilla” or “little league playoffs”.
The situation was tense as Moca received O&M FC. The O&M team had lost the previous week to Atlantico FC from Puerto Plata, and if both teams won their final games, Atlantico would enter the liguilla, and O&M, for the first time in years would be resting for several weeks.
Atlantico was playing Jarabacoa FC, already eliminated from the playoffs but playing for pride more than anything. In Moca, the home team struck first in the first half of the match with a goal by Parra, possibly sealing the fate of O&M. In the last seconds of the first half, Moca missed a penalty kick, giving O&M some hope.
Meanwhile, in Puerto Plata, the locals had taken a 1-0 lead over Jarabacoa, further sealing the fate of O&M. However, in the second half of the game in Moca, O&M came storming back to take the game 1-3, with two goals by Gomez and one by Cuellar and preserving a chance to play in the liguilla.
At the same time in Puerto Plata, the home team kept their 1-0 lead that was their pass into the playoffs. As the last seconds ticked away, Jarabacoa scored a very good goal, which broke the hearts of the Atlantico fans and team, and sending O&M into the finals.
On the second day of the final matches, Athletic La Vega received the powerful team Salcedo, perhaps the surprise of the tournament. Cibao FC received Pantoja FC in the evening match. In La Vega, a hat trick by Victor Morales and an addition goal by Julio Cesar Rosario, defeated the powerful Salcedo Blues 4-3. Salcedo’s great goal striker, Daniel Jamesley scored two goals in the game.
The match between Cibao FC and Pantoja was essentially meaningless, since the first and second spots in the playoffs were already decided. Pantoja was going to finish first in this section of league play for the first time in their history and Cibao was not going to spend even one week in first place for the first time in at least 8 years. And, to the Cibao side this was a revenge match for a loss suffered in San Cristobal several months ago.
The game was exciting, with Cibao pressuring most of the time but a solid defense and very good play by the Pantoja keeper kept the game 0-0 for 87 minutes. A strong Cibao attack forced a mistake by Pantoja defender Jordan Montezuma that put Cibao ahead 1-0. The Cibao side did not slacken the pace and in the last seconds of the additional time, Eduarlyn Reyes, perhaps the revelation of the tournament, brought the ball in from the left and curved his shot just inside the second post to seal the final score 2-0.
As a result of all of this, on 10 January the league will begin the playoffs with Pantoja going against O&M on the turf of the Panamerican Stadium in San Cristobal. Cibao FC will receive the visit of Moca FC at the Ciba FC Stadium on the campus of the PUCMM. Salcedo will receive the visit of the Delfines del Este (Dolphins of the East) at their stadium in Hermanas Mirabal province. This series will be a home and away round-robin with the top two teams playing for the title.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
El Caribe
22 December 2025