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

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Apertura

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Regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Platense[a] 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: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Platense 1997 Honduran Cup champions as regular season winner.

Results

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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.

Final round

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Hexagonal

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1 March 1998 1st leg Marathón 2–3 Olimpia San Pedro Sula, Cortés
Castro  
Rosales  
Costa  
Dolmo Flores  
Williams  
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
  • Olimpia won 4–2 on aggregate.

  • Motagua 1–1 Real España on aggregate. Motagua advanced on better Regular season record; Real España advanced as best loser.

  • Platense 1–1 Universidad on aggregate; Platense advanced on better Regular season record.

Semifinals

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  • Real España won 3–1 on aggregate.

  • Motagua 2–2 Olimpia on aggregate; Motagua advanced on better Regular season record.

Final

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  • Motagua won 5–1 on aggregate.

Top goalscorers

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19 goals

11 goals

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

Clausura

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Regular season

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Standings

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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: [citation needed]

Results

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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.

Final round

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Hexagonal

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19 September 1998 1st leg Victoria 1–2 Olimpia La Ceiba, Atlántida
Bengoché   Costa  
Martins  
Stadium: Estadio Nilmo Edwards
  • Olimpia 2–2 Victoria on aggregate; Olimpia advances on better performance in Regular season; Victoria advances as best loser.
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.
  • Motagua won 5–2 on aggregate.

Semifinals

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3 October 1998 1st leg Victoria 2–1 Olimpia La Ceiba, Atlántida
19:30 (UTC−06:00) Obando  
Venier  
Martins   Stadium: Estadio Nilmo Edwards
  • 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
  • Motagua won 5–4 on aggregate.

Final

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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

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15 goals

13 goals

8 goals

7 goals

5 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Relegation table

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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[a]
11 Independiente Villela 40 3 14 23 42 87 −45 23
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Palestino and Independiente Villela relegated to the Liga de Ascenso.

Squads

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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   Neptally Romero   Aldo Fuentes
  Allan Villegas
Motagua
  Diego Martin Vásquez   Ninrod Madina   Hernain Arzu
  Reinaldo Clavasquin   Arón Hernandez   Juan Manuel "Gato" Coello
  Milton "Jocon" Reyes   Amado "Lobo" Guevara   Juan Carlos Raudales
  Roberto Asprilla   Marlon "Pitufo" Hernández   Luis "Chamaquito" Guifarro
  Presley Carson Woods   Jairo Manfredo Martinez   Francisco "Pancho Ra" Ramirez
  Ariel Leyes   Oscar "Mexicano" Lagos   Ivan Guerrero
Olimpia
  Donaldo González   Nerlin Membreño   Favio Ulloa
  Samuel Caballero   Alberto Güity   Gregorio Serrano
  Jose Luis "Flaco" Pineda   Nahun Espinoza   Dolmo Flores
  Silvio Traverso   Denilson Costa de Oliveira   Wilmer Velasquez
  Eduardo Arriola Carter   Cesar Henriquez   Nolberto Martinez
  Ramon Romero "Romerito"
Platense
  Ricardo James   Rony Morales   Anthony "El Caballo de Hierro" Torres
  Limber Perez   Marco Antonio Mejía   Jorge Arita Neals
  Robel Bernardez   Roberto bernardez   Abel Rodriguez
  Julio Cesar "Rambo" D. Leon   José Luis "Runga" Piota   Carlos Da Silva
  Juan Manuel Carcamo   Gustavo Fuentes   Hernan Centeno Batiz
Real Maya
  Marvin Fonseca   Luis Lagos   Hector Amaya
  Leonardo Svagher   Lenin Suárez   Edgar Sierra
  David Carcamo   Jose "Flaco" Hernandez   Geovany "Yura" Rochez
  Claudio Sanchez   Nelson Rosale   Guillermo Ramirez
  Luis Enrique "Gavilan" Calix   Elvis "Chusa" Castellanos   Alberto Guity
Real España
  Milton "Chocolate" Flores   Javier Rodríguez   Jaime Ruiz
  Luis Lopez Zelaya   Marco Vinicio "Chacal" Ortega   Camilo "Tin Tin" Bonilla Paz
  Diego Fernandez   Miguel Fernandez   Edgar Figueroa
  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   S. Alderete
Universidad
  Damian Garofalo   Guillermo César Sumich   Troy Andrerson
  Miguel Arcangel Guity   Daniel Aquino   Amidanan Lainez
  Juan Rosa Lagos   Martin Sirimarco   Hector Leonel Rodriguez
  Claudio del Barco   D. Bonilla   Camilo Bonilla Ocampo
  Rony Zelaya   Jorge "Avioneta" Martinez   Raul Dolmo
Victoria
  Carlos Pronno   Javier Martinez   Raul Martinez Sambula
  Renán Cristino Bengoché   Fabricio Pérez   Francisco Antonio Pavón
  Hernan Funez   Jose Garcia   Erick Dario Fú
  cesar "Nene" Obando   Byron Suazo   Alejandro "Turco" Naif
  Persibal Piggot   Mauricio Edgardo Figueroa   Alvaro Izquierdo

Curiosities

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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

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