The Primera A 2008 season (officially "Torneo Primera A 2008") started on February 23, 2008. The Apertura champions was Orión and the Clausura champion was Río Abajo F.C. On November 15, 2008 a grand final was played and Río Abajo were crowned champions after defeating 2–1 Orión. However Río Abajo lost the promotion play-off against Plaza Amador in a 3–2 aggregate score, thus failing to promote to ANAPROF.
Changes for 2008 The league is once again separated into Apertura and Clausura. The Primera A champion will play a playoff for promotion with the last team in the ANAPROF general standings instead of being promoted directly. There will be no relegation during this season. The Apertura and Clausura winners will play a match in order to decide an overall champion who would play the playoff for promotion to ANAPROF. This playoff between the Apertura and Clausura champions is the same as the Grand Championship format used previously in ANAPROF and Primera A. Club Deportivo Policía Nacional renamed themselves during mid-season to Sociedad Deportiva Atlético Nacional.
Primera A 2008 teams Club City Stadium Atlético Nacional Panama City Estadio Kobee Chorrillito Arraiján Campo de Campana C.A.I. La Chorrera Ciudad del Niño Valdes Génesis Panama City Estadio Balboa Orión San Miguelito Estadio Bernardo Gil Pan de Azúcar San Miguelito Campo de la UTP Paraíso San Miguelito Estadio Bernardo Gil Río Abajo Panama City Estadio Balboa
Primera A Apertura 2008 Apertura 2008 Standings Place(Posición)Team (Equipo)Played (PJ)Won (PG)Draw (PE)Lost (PP)Goals Scored(GF)Goals Conceded(GC)+/-(Dif.)Points(Pts.) 1.Río Abajo F.C. 14 10 1 3 41 19 +22 31 2.Orión 14 9 1 4 30 17 +13 28 3.Paraíso 14 7 3 4 28 24 +4 24 4.Chorrillito 14 7 2 5 32 24 +8 23 5.Atlético Nacional 14 6 3 5 28 31 -3 21 6.Pan de Azúcar 14 6 1 7 22 34 -12 19 7.C.A.I. 14 3 1 10 20 31 -11 10 8.Génesis 14 3 0 11 15 35 -20 9
Green indicates Semifinal Berth
Apertura 2008 Results table
[*] The score is unknown, but it was reported as a win for Paraiso F.C.
Final round
Semifinals 1st leg
Semifinals 2nd leg
Final
Apertura 2008 Champion:Orión
Primera A Clausura 2008 Clausura 2008 standings Place(Posición)Team (Equipo)Played (PJ)Won (PG)Draw (PE)Lost (PP)Goals Scored(GF)Goals Conceded(GC)+/-(Dif.)Points(Pts.) 1.Orión 14 9 2 3 52 21 +31 29 2.Río Abajo F.C. 14 8 3 3 39 20 +19 27 3.Pan de Azúcar 14 7 5 2 30 15 +15 25 4.Chorrillito 14 6 3 5 30 26 +4 21 5.Paraíso 14 6 3 5 25 25 0 21 6.Atlético Nacional 14 4 6 4 27 19 +8 18 7.Génesis 14 2 3 9 17 58 -41 9 8.C.A.I. 14 0 3 11 15 50 -35 3
Green indicates Semifinal Berth (Los equipos en verde señalan los clasificados a semifinales).
Clausura 2008 results table
[*] Awarded 3–0 to Pan de Azúcar by ANAPROF because Paraíso failed the league's regulation by not bringing their away kit, thus since both teams' home kit was white the game had to be suspended.Pan de Azucar awarded 3-0 victory over Paraiso [**] Originally 3–1 victory for Paraíso but awarded to Chorrillito.Chorrillito awarded victory over Paraiso in the Matchday 10
Final round
Semifinals 1st leg
Semifinals 2nd leg
Final
Clausura 2008 Champion:Río Abajo F.C.
Primera A 2008 Grand Final Club Champion Orión Primera A 2008 Apertura Champion Río Abajo F.C. Primera A 2008 Clausura Champion
Final
Primera A 2008 Champion:Río Abajo1st Title
Promotion playoff
Río Abajo remain in Primera A
1st leg
2nd leg
References