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.RSSSF.com–Honduras 1997/98 The final match was played in the evening of 25 October, just a few hours before Hurricane Mitch landed in the coasts of Honduras.
1997–98 teams
Independiente Villela (invited) Marathón Motagua Olimpia Palestino (promoted) Platense Real España Real Maya Universidad Victoria Vida
Apertura Regular season Also serves as 1997 Honduran Cup.
Standings
Results
Final round
Hexagonal
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
Real España won 3–1 on aggregate.
Motagua 4–2 Olimpia on aggregate; Motagua advanced on better Regular season record.
Final
Motagua won 5–1 on aggregate.
Top goalscorers 19 goals Wilmer Velásquez (Olimpia) 11 goals Juan Manuel Cárcamo (Platense) 7 goals
Denilson Costa (Olimpia) Francisco Ramírez (Motagua) Marlon Hernández (Motagua)
6 goals
Amado Guevara (Motagua) Alex Pineda Chacón (Olimpia)
5 goals
Alexis Duarte (Marathón) Jairo Martínez (Motagua) Edwin Castro (Marathón)
Clausura
Regular season
Standings
Results
Final round
Hexagonal
Olimpia 2–2 Victoria on aggregate; Olimpia advances on better performance in Regular season; Victoria advances as best loser.
Platense 1–1 Marathón on aggregate; Platense advances on better performance in Regular season.
Motagua won 5–2 on aggregate.
Semifinals
Olimpia 2–2 Victoria on aggregate; Olimpia advances on better performance in Regular season.
Motagua won 5–4 on aggregate.
Final
GK – Silvio Traverso DF – José Fernández DF – Gregorio Serrano DF – Rudy Williams DF – Merlyn Membreño DF – Samuel Caballero MF – José Romero MF – Christian Santamaría MF – Alex Pineda FW – Denilson Costa FW – Rodinei Martins Substitutions: MF – José Pineda FW – Eduardo Arriola GK – Donaldo González Manager: José Herrera
GK 1 Diego Vásquez DF 4 Hernaín Arzú DF 5 Milton Reyes DF 6 Ninrrol Medina DF 12 Iván Guerrero DF 13 Reynaldo Clavasquín MF 8 Juan Coello MF 20 Amado Guevara MF – Óscar Lagos FW 11 José Ramírez FW 14 Marlon Hernández Substitutions: MF – Luis Guifarro Manager: Ramón Maradiaga
Motagua won 1–0 on aggregate.
Top goalscorers 15 goals
Wilmer Velásquez (Olimpia) Amado Guevara (Motagua)
13 goals Denilson Costa (Olimpia) 8 goals Juan Manuel Cárcamo (Platense) 7 goals
Marlon Hernández (Olimpia) Francisco Ramírez (Marathón) Rodinei Martins (Olimpia) Toninho (Marathón)
5 goals
Alejandro Naíf (Victoria) Marvin Brown (Vida) Luis Ramírez (Independiente Villela)
2 goals
Carlos Salinas (Motagua) Fabricio Pérez (Marathón)
1 goal
Alexander Díaz (Real España) Enrique Reneau (Marathón)
Relegation table
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 Neptally Romero Aldo Fuentes Allan Villegas Marathon Pedro Cubillo Mario Beata Jaime Rosales Erasmo "Urco" Castillo Ciro Paulino "pali" Castillo Alex Roberto "robot" Bailey Fabricio "amapala" Pérez Alexis Duarte Geovanny "venado" Castro Antonio Rudon Arita Nigel Zuniga Nahaman Gonzales Juan Castro Edwin Medina Toninho dos Santos Antono de Brito Basilio Zapata Juan Castro Enrique Centeno Renau Luis "chino" Reyes Victor Coello Behiker Bustillo 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 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.RadioHouse.hn–CASOS INSÓLITOS DEL FÚTBOL HONDUREÑO–13 October 2016
References