CATHERINE HALL, St James — Mexico are champions of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 for the first time after they wore down Canada to beat them 4-2 on penalty kicks in the final at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, on Saturday night.

The teams had played to a 0-0 scoreline after regulation 90 minutes and went straight to penalty kicks as the rules mandate for Under-17 women. In the process. Mexico avenged their loss to Canada in the 2010 final, their only other appearance in the Under-17 women’s decider.

This was Mexico’s second win over Canada in five meetings at this level.

As they had done against the USA two days earlier in the semi-finals, the underdog Mexicans who had the relatively small crowd behind them, frustrated the Canadians with their disciplined defending and quick counter-attacks.

Mexico’s goalkeeper Emily Alvarado once again rose to the occasion in the penalty shootout, making two big saves, a repeat of the shoot-out against the Americans, stopping shots from Simmrin Dhaliwal and Marie Levasseur, adding to a series of big saves during free-flowing play.

Sarah Kinzner and Sarah Stratigakis scored for Canada.

Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican captain, Eva Gonzalez, Miriam Garcia, and Belen Cruz scored for Mexico, while Aylin Villalobos’ shot was saved by the Canadian goalkeeper Rylee Foster.

Foster, who was ironically named the best goalkeeper in the tournament, was lucky to finish the game after she had pulled down Jaqueline Garcia in the box in the 56th minute after the Mexican striker had beaten her and headed for goal. The Barbadian referee, Gillian Martindale, saw no foul and waved play on much to the agony of the Jamaican supporters who were rooting for the Mexicans.

The Mexicans thought they had at least two good calls for a penalty after Bianca St Georges had also appeared to have pushed the mercurial Janae Gonzales in the back midway the second half.

Canada, with their patient build-up from the back, dominated the early proceedings and forced Alvarado into a good knee save in the 34th minute when Levasseur got past the defender and shot at goal.

Alvarado also came up big late in the second half when she parried a point-blank shot from tournament MVP Jessie Fleming then caught the ball as is looped back to her goal.

The USA took the third place after hammering a tired-looking Jamaica 8-0 in the first game of the first meeting between the two countries at this level.