The Liga Nacional de Ascenso 2009 season (officially "Torneo Primera A 2009") started on February 28, 2009. The defending champion and Apertura winner was Río Abajo and the Clausura winner was Orión. On December 12, 2009, a grand final was played where Río Abajo were crowned champions of the Liga Nacional de Ascenso after defeating Orión 3–1. However (as it happened in the 2008 edition) Río Abajo lost the promotion play-off, but this time against Alianza in a 2–1 aggregate score, thus failing to promote to the Liga Panameña de Fútbol.
The champion was promoted directly without playing a promotion play-off.
Changes for 2009 The league increased the number of participating teams from 8 to 10. After the Apertura I season Primera A changed its name to Liga Nacional de Ascenso.
Liga Nacional de Ascenso 2009 teams
Club City Stadium Atlético Nacional Panama City Cuadro de Kobee Chorrillito Arraiján Campo de Campana C.A.I. La Chorrera Estadio Agustín Sánchez El Tecal Arraiján Campo de Campana Génesis Panama City Estadio Balboa Millenium Panama City Estadio Bernardo Gil Orión San Miguelito Estadio Bernardo Gil Pan de Azúcar San Miguelito Estadio Balboa Paraíso San Miguelito Estadio Bernardo Gil Río Abajo Panama City Estadio Bernardo Gil
Primera A Apertura 2009 I Standings PlaceTeamPlayedWonDraw Lost Goals Scored Goals Conceded+/-Points 1.Río Abajo 18 12 5 1 48 20 +28 41 2.Atlético Nacional 18 10 5 3 34 17 +17 35 3.C.A.I. 18 11 2 5 35 22 +13 35 4.Paraíso 18 9 5 4 43 28 +15 32 5.Chorrillito 18 10 1 7 35 36 -1 31 6.Pan de Azúcar 18 7 3 8 49 33 +16 24 7.Orión 18 7 2 9 37 33 +4 23 8.Millenium 18 5 3 10 29 38 -9 18 9.El Tecal 18 4 2 12 19 48 -29 14 10.Génesis 18 1 0 17 19 72 -53 3
Qualified to the final round.
Positions by round
Results table
[*] Génesis and Atlético Nacional was initially postponed to a later date. The game result is unknown however it is known that Atl. Nacional managed to beat Génesis. [**]Millenium won by default because Genesis did not show up.
Final Round
Semifinals 1st leg
Semifinals 2nd leg
Final
Apertura 2009 I Champion:Río Abajo
Top Goal Scorer Position Player Scored for Goals 1 Andy Nuñez Pan de Azúcar 20 2 Mario Cox Chorrillito 17 3 Roberty Morales Pan de Azúcar 13 4 Shamar Amantine Orión 10 5 Aramis Haywood Río Abajo 9
Liga Nacional de Ascenso Apertura 2009 II Standings PlaceTeamPlayedWonDraw Lost Goals Scored Goals Conceded+/-Points 1.Río Abajo 18 13 1 4 52 16 +36 40 2.Paraíso 18 11 3 4 42 25 +17 36 3.Orión 18 10 3 5 62 34 +28 33 4.Pan de Azúcar 18 10 2 6 37 31 +6 32 5.Chorrillito 18 10 1 7 37 24 +13 31 6.Atlético Nacional 18 8 4 6 36 25 +11 28 7.Independiente 18 5 4 9 31 45 -14 19 8.Millenium 18 5 3 10 27 46 -19 18 9.El Tecal 18 4 5 9 33 46 -13 17 10.Génesis 18 0 2 16 15 80 -65 2
Qualified to the final round.
Results table
Positions by round
Final Round
Semifinals 1st leg
Semifinals 2nd leg
Final
Apertura 2009 II Champion:Orión
Top Goal Scorer Position Player Scored for Goals 1 Roberty Morales Orión 21 2 Jefferson Viveros Río Abajo 19 3 Luis Rentería Eduardo Santos OriónChorrillito 15 5 Andy Nuñez Pan de Azúcar 10
Liga Nacional de Ascenso 2009 Grand Final Club Champion Río Abajo Apertura 2009 I Champion Orión Apertura 2009 II Champion
Grand Final
Primera A 2008 Champion:Río Abajo2nd Title
Promotion playoff
Río Abajo remain in Liga Nacional de Ascenso
1st leg
2nd leg