1997–98 Honduran Liga Nacional

In 1997–98 the Honduran Liga Nacional brought a new competition system; the league would be now divided into two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura), having C.D. Motagua won their 6th and 7th title in this new format. The tournament lasted from August 1997 to October 1998 and it consisted of 11 teams for the first time since the 1981–82 season.[1] The final match was played in the evening of 25 October, just a few hours before Hurricane Mitch landed in the coasts of Honduras.

Liga Nacional
Season1997–98
ChampionsApertura: Motagua
(6th title)
Clausura: Motagua
(7th title)
RelegatedPalestino
Independiente Villela
Torneo Grandes de CentroamericaMotagua
Real España
Olimpia
Top goalscorerApertura:
Wilmer Velásquez (19)
Clausura: Amado Guevara (15)
Biggest home winVida 7–2 Independiente
(19 October 1997)
Biggest away winIndependiente 1–4 Olimpia
(8 July 1998)
Victoria 1–4 Olimpia
(9 August 1998)
Real Maya 1–4 Motagua
(20 September 1998)
Highest scoringVida 7–2 Independiente
(19 October 1997)
All statistics correct as of 25 October 1998.

1997–98 teams

Apertura

Regular season

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Platense[lower-alpha 1] 20 12 2 6 42 26 +16 38 Qualified to the Final round
2 Motagua 20 10 7 3 23 17 +6 37
3 Olimpia 20 9 9 2 33 21 +12 36
4 Marathón 20 8 8 4 30 24 +6 32
5 Real España 20 8 8 4 30 26 +4 32
6 Universidad 20 8 6 6 29 26 +3 30
7 Victoria 20 5 9 6 25 28 −3 24
8 Vida 20 7 2 11 31 33 −2 23
9 Real Maya 20 4 6 10 25 29 −4 18
10 Palestino 20 3 5 12 28 43 −15 14
11 Independiente Villela 20 1 8 11 19 42 −23 11
Source:
Notes:
  1. Platense 1997 Honduran Cup champions as regular season winner.

Results
Home \ Away IND MAR MOT OLI PAL PLA RES MAY UNI VIC VID
Independiente Villela 0–2 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–1 0–0
Marathón 1–0 0–1 0–0 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 2–3
Motagua 2–1 0–1 0–3 1–1 1–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 0–0 1–0
Olimpia 2–2 3–2 0–1 3–1 3–3 0–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 3–1
Palestino 1–1 1–3 3–4 1–2 1–3 2–3 1–0 3–2 1–1 2–1
Platense 4–2 1–1 1–0 3–0 4–2 4–1 1–0 1–2 4–1 0–2
Real España 3–1 2–3 0–2 0–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0
Real Maya 4–1 2–3 0–0 1–1 2–2 2–3 2–2 1–2 3–0 1–2
Universidad 4–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 3–3 1–2 0–0 3–0
Victoria 3–1 1–1 2–3 1–1 2–1 3–2 2–2 2–0 1–2 2–1
Vida 7–2 2–3 0–1 2–2 3–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–3 1–0
Source: RSSSF.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Hexagonal
1 March 1998 1st leg Marathón 2–3 Olimpia San Pedro Sula, Cortés
Castro
Rosales 		Costa
Dolmo Flores
Williams 		Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
15 March 1998 2nd leg Olimpia 1–0 Marathón Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
Velásquez Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Olimpia won 4–2 on aggregate.
7 March 1998 1st leg Real España 0–0 Motagua San Pedro Sula, Cortés
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
18 March 1998 2nd leg Motagua 1–1 Real España Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
19:30 (UTC−06:00) Martínez  85' Cabrera  80' Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Motagua 1–1 Real España on aggregate. Motagua advanced on better Regular season record; Real España advanced as best loser.
12 March 1998 1st leg Universidad 0–0 Platense Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
15 March 1998 2nd leg Platense 1–1 Universidad Puerto Cortés, Cortés
Contreras Martínez Stadium: Estadio Excélsior
  • Platense 1–1 Universidad on aggregate; Platense advanced on better Regular season record.

Semifinals
28 March 1998 1st leg Real España 2–0 Platense San Pedro Sula, Cortés
Morales
García 		Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
5 April 1998 2nd leg Platense 1–1 Real España Puerto Cortés, Cortés
Stadium: Estadio Excélsior
  • Real España won 3–1 on aggregate.
29 March 1998 1st leg Olimpia 1–2 Motagua Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
16:00 (UTC−06:00) Costa Guevara
Hernández 		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
4 April 1998 2nd leg Motagua 0–1 Olimpia Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
Chacón Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Motagua 2–2 Olimpia on aggregate; Motagua advanced on better Regular season record.

Final
15 April 1998 1st leg Real España 0–3 Motagua San Pedro Sula, Cortés
19:30 (UTC−06:00) Ramírez  21'
Lagos  55'
Guevara  89'		 Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
18 April 1998 2nd leg Motagua 2–1 Real España Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
19:30 (UTC−06:00) Ramírez  20'
Guevara  32'		 Morales  26' Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Motagua won 5–1 on aggregate.

Top goalscorers

19 goals

11 goals

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

Clausura

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Olimpia 20 13 7 0 46 15 +31 46 Qualified to the Final round
2 Motagua 20 14 4 2 39 15 +24 46
3 Platense 20 8 8 4 36 30 +6 32
4 Marathón 20 7 9 4 29 28 +1 30
5 Real Maya 20 8 4 8 26 27 −1 28
6 Victoria 20 6 8 6 24 25 −1 26
7 Vida 20 5 8 7 26 26 0 23
8 Real España 20 5 8 7 24 26 −2 23
9 Palestino 20 4 6 10 20 38 −18 18
10 Independiente Villela 20 2 6 12 23 45 −22 12
11 Universidad 20 1 6 13 14 33 −19 9
Source:

Results
Home \ Away IND MAR MOT OLI PAL PLA RES MAY UNI VIC VID
Independiente Villela 1–1 3–3 1–4 0–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 0–0
Marathón 1–0 0–0 0–3 5–0 2–2 3–3 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–0
Motagua 6–1 1–0 1–1 4–1 3–0 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–0 2–0
Olimpia 2–0 5–0 2–1 4–0 1–1 3–1 3–0 2–0 1–1 4–3
Palestino 0–1 4–2 0–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–2
Platense 5–3 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–1 2–1 4–1 3–1 2–2 1–0
Real España 2–0 1–1 2–4 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–1 0–0
Real Maya 2–1 2–2 0–1 2–2 3–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–0 0–0
Universidad 0–0 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–1 0–1 1–3 0–2
Victoria 3–2 0–2 0–0 1–4 3–1 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1
Vida 5–2 1–1 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–2
Source: RSSSF.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Hexagonal
19 September 1998 1st leg Victoria 1–2 Olimpia La Ceiba, Atlántida
Bengoché Costa
Martins 		Stadium: Estadio Nilmo Edwards
27 September 1998 2nd leg Olimpia 0–1 Victoria Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
14:00 (UTC−06:00) Venier Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Olimpia 2–2 Victoria on aggregate; Olimpia advances on better performance in Regular season; Victoria advances as best loser.
19 September 1998 1st leg Marathón 0–0 Platense San Pedro Sula, Cortés
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
27 September 1998 2nd leg Platense 1–1 Marathón Puerto Cortés, Cortés
Stadium: Estadio Excélsior
  • Platense 1–1 Marathón on aggregate; Platense advances on better performance in Regular season.
20 September 1998 1st leg Real Maya 1–4 Motagua Siguatepeque, Comayagua
Stadium: Estadio Roberto Martínez Avila
27 September 1998 2nd leg Motagua 1–1 Real Maya Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
16:00 (UTC−06:00) Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Motagua won 5–2 on aggregate.

Semifinals
3 October 1998 1st leg Victoria 2–1 Olimpia La Ceiba, Atlántida
19:30 (UTC−06:00) Obando
Venier 		Martins Stadium: Estadio Nilmo Edwards
11 October 1998 2nd leg Olimpia 1–0 Victoria Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
16:00 (UTC−06:00) Martins Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Olimpia 2–2 Victoria on aggregate; Olimpia advances on better performance in Regular season.
4 October 1998 1st leg Platense 3–3 Motagua Puerto Cortés, Cortés
15:00 (UTC−06:00) Centeno
Cruz
Fuentes 		Guevara Stadium: Estadio Excélsior
11 October 1998 2nd leg Motagua 2–1 Platense Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
14:00 (UTC−06:00) Hernández
Ramírez 		de León Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
  • Motagua won 5–4 on aggregate.

Final
18 October 1998 1st leg Motagua 0–0 Olimpia Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
16:00 (UTC−06:00) Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
25 October 1998 2nd leg Olimpia 0–1 (a.e.t.) Motagua Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán
16:00 (UTC−06:00) Clavasquín  117' Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
Attendance: 34,194
Referee: Óscar Bardales
Olimpia
Motagua
  • Motagua won 1–0 on aggregate.

Top goalscorers

15 goals

13 goals

8 goals

7 goals

5 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Relegation table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Motagua 40 24 11 5 62 32 +30 83 Qualified to the 1998 Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica
2 Olimpia 40 22 16 2 79 36 +43 82
3 Platense 40 20 10 10 78 56 +22 70
4 Marathón 40 15 17 8 60 52 +8 62
5 Real España 40 13 16 11 54 52 +2 55 Qualified to the 1998 Torneo Grandes de Centroamerica
6 Victoria 40 11 17 12 49 53 −4 50
7 Vida 40 12 10 18 57 59 −2 46
8 Real Maya 40 12 10 18 51 56 −5 46
9 Universidad 40 9 12 19 43 59 −16 39
10 Palestino 40 7 11 22 48 81 −33 32 Relegated to the Liga de Ascenso[lower-alpha 1]
11 Independiente Villela 40 3 14 23 42 87 −45 23
Source:
Notes:
  1. Palestino and Independiente Villela relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.

Squads
Independiente Villela
Wilmer Enrique "Supermán" Cruz Marel Álvarez Jorge Flores
José Luis “Pili” Aguirre Martín Castro Wilmer Roque
David Zambrano Gustavo Gallegos Mauricio Edgardo Figueroa
Danilo Velásquez Arnold López Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda
Henry Guevara Iván Ponce José "Picardía" Padilla
Luis Santamaría Pablo Valencia Gustavo Venegas
Sergio Bustos Hernán Carusso Hugo Aguilar
Irineo Núñez Óscar "Pando" Gómez Edgardo Emilson Soto Fajardo
Leonardo Isaula Gustavo Olaíndia Mario Obulgen
Iván Nolasco Mariano "Tierno" Ramírez Francisco Sandoval
Walter Amador Édgar Fajardo Édgar Delgado
José Zaldívar Luis "Bombero" Ramírez Noé Argueta
Palestino
Dangelo Bautista Wilmer Centeno Javier Padilla
Ricardo Pérez Wilson Castellanos Cristino Bernárdez
Marvin Mazariegos Selvin Sánchez Walter “Gualala” Trejo
Raúl Trejo Luis Perdomo Marcos Pitío
Carlos Mathis Enrique Carías Carlos Gotay
Carlos González James Chewitt Yerco Salinas
Gustavo Cálix Marvin Morán Rubén Cantarero
Óscar Hurtarte Carlos Ellis Juan Carlos Salinas
Juan Carlos Canchimbo Juan Ramón Hernández Mario Guerrero
Israel Bernárdez Marvin "Mango" Henríquez Edward Barahona
Danilo "Pollo" Galindo Osmar Vargas Iván Elías
Martín Álvarez Claudio Chasior Gustavo Steimbach
Evelio Barralaga Felipe Valerio Nicole Watson
Jorge García Henry Enamorado David Flores
Hudell Thompson Neptaly Romero Aldo Fuentes
Allan Villegas
Real España
Milton "Chocolate" Flores Javier Rodríguez Jaime Ruiz
César Clother Marlon Monge Mario Rodríguez
Norman Martínez Ricky Denis García Francis Reyes
Orvin Cabrera Jorge Zapata Alexander Díaz
Miguel Angel "Gallo" Mariano Rodolfo Richardson Smith

Curiosities

On 12 July 1998, the league scheduled a match between Palestino F.C. and Universidad at Estadio Miraflores. The game which started at 14:00 local time, was played at the same time of the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Brazil. The match which ended 2–0 to Palestino, was witnessed by 55 loyal fans, an outstanding record.[2]

References
  1. RSSSF.com–Honduras 1997/98 Archived June 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. RadioHouse.hn–CASOS INSÓLITOS DEL FÚTBOL HONDUREÑO–13 October 2016
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