Cibao FC faces its arch-rivals Club Atlético Pantoja this Sunday, seeking to secure the first position in the Dominican Football League (LDF 2022), in a match that will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Félix Sánchez stadium, in Santo Domingo.
With a victory the eleventh orange will add 3 points and would total 27 goals and would put themselves out of reach of their other rivals, in a rescheduled match corresponding to matchday 9.Cibao FC and Pantoja have waged epic battles since professional football began in the Dominican Republic in 2015. They are the only clubs that have two national champion crowns, as well as the Caribbean Cup in the Concacaf tournaments. Cibao FC has 24 points at the top of the championship, product of 7 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, with 23 goals for and 13 against for a positive balance of more than 10. Pantoja occupies fifth place, heading to the Liguilla, with 17 points, achieved with 5 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses, with 18 goals for and 16 against for a positive plus 2. The orange representative from Santiago, who supports the Banreservas, was monarch in 2018, repeated in 2021 and achieved the runner-up in 2016 and 2019. Pantoja won the first crown in 2015, repeated in 2019 and his runner-up in 2017. Cibao FC has two players with 5 goals in the Colombian Juan David Díaz and Erick Japa, Yohan Parra has 3, Christian Alba and Pinta Díaz 2 each, Welkin Luis, Ángel Montes de Oca, Diefry Mensú and Jean Carlos López, register one. Pantoja, who has made a move in his squad, has Jesús Rodríguez with 5 goals, Ronaldo Vásquez with 4, Emilio Rentería, Francisco Jiménez, Kendry Tejada, Samir de la Rosa and Jayson Madé with one. After this match, Cibao will have a pending game, just like Club Atlético Pantoja. Cibao FC is first with 24 points, Universidad O&M and Jarabacoa FC have 23, Moca FC 21, Pantoja 17, Atlético Vega Real 16, Atlético San Cristóbal 7 and Los Delfines 3. The first 6 qualify for the Liguilla and the last 2 remain outside.
