The 2018–19 Liga Nacional de Honduras season was the 53rd edition of the Liga Nacional de Honduras, the top football league in Honduras, since its establishment in 1965. The tournament started in July 2018 and ended in June 2019. The season was divided into two halves (Apertura and Clausura), each crowning one champion. F.C. Motagua as winners of both tournaments, qualified to the 2019 CONCACAF League as HON1. Club Deportivo Olimpia as runner-ups and C.D. Marathón as the team with the third best record, also qualified to international contention for next season.
2018–19 teams
A total of 10 teams will contest the tournament, including 9 sides from the 2017–18 season plus C.D. Real de Minas, promoted from the 2017–18 Liga de Ascenso.
Team Location Stadium Capacity Honduras Progreso El Progreso Estadio Humberto Micheletti 5,000 Juticalpa Juticalpa Estadio Juan Ramón Brevé Vargas 20,000 Marathón San Pedro Sula Estadio Yankel Rosenthal 15,000 Motagua Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000 Olimpia Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000 Platense Puerto Cortés Estadio Excélsior 7,910 Real de Minas Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000 Real España San Pedro Sula Estadio Francisco Morazán 26,781 UPNFM Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000 Vida La Ceiba Estadio Nilmo Edwards 18,000
Real de Minas changed its name from Infop RNP to Club Deportivo Real de Minas. C.D. Real de Minas will use Danlí and Siguatepeque as alternate venues. Lobos UPNFM will use Choluteca as alternate venue. Club Deportivo Olimpia used San Pedro Sula as alternate venue for one game.
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Vacancy Replaced by Appointment Position in table Juticalpa Ramón Maradiaga Banned 2 May 2018 Héctor Castellón 1 June 2018 Preseason Real de Minas Reynaldo Tilguath Replaced 26 July 2018 Javier Padilla 26 July 2018 Preseason Real de Minas Javier Padilla Resigned 20 October 2018 Harold Yepes 22 October 2018 10th Olimpia Nahúm Espinoza Resigned 24 October 2018 Manuel Keosseián 25 October 2018 1st Real de Minas Harold Yepes Sacked 10 November 2018 Raúl Cáceres 5 December 2018 10th Honduras Progreso Mauro Reyes Sacked 10 November 2018 Hernán García 16 December 2018 7th Real España Martín García Resigned 1 December 2018 Carlos Restrepo 17 December 2018 5th Juticalpa Héctor Castellón Sacked 5 December 2018 Robert Lima 10 December 2018 9th Vida Raúl Martínez Sacked 17 February 2019 Héctor Castellón 17 February 2019 8th Honduras Progreso Hernán García Resigned 18 February 2019 Reynaldo Clavasquín 18 February 2019 7th Juticalpa Robert Lima Sacked 18 February 2019 Wilmer Cruz 19 February 2019 9th Platense Carlos Martínez Resigned 7 April 2019 Carlos Caballero 8 April 2019 6th Honduras Progreso Reynaldo Clavasquín Resigned 11 April 2019 Luís Alvarado 12 April 2019 9th Platense Carlos Caballero Sacked 8 May 2019 José Torres 16 May 2019 Play-offs
Apertura The Apertura tournament was the first half of the 2018–19 season which run from 28 July to 16 December 2018. The schedule of the Apertura was released on 13 July. F.C. Motagua finished at the top of the standings for their first time since 2010. Meanwhile, Lobos UPNFM reached their best regular season performance finishing third. C.D. Real de Minas finished last in their first league appearance. Club Deportivo Olimpia eliminated Real C.D. España and qualified to their first final series since 2016. Motagua, their rivals on the other side, qualified to their fifth consecutive final. With a 2–1 aggregate score, Motagua conquered their 16th national title.
Regular season Standings
Results
Playoffs Results
Clausura The Clausura tournament was the second half of the 2018–19 season which ran from January to June 2019. The schedule was released on 20 December 2018. Club Deportivo Olimpia finished on top of the standings for the first time since 2017. Lobos UPNFM made history in the play-offs stage after beating Real C.D. España and qualifying to their first ever semifinal. Just as it happened in the Apertura tournament, F.C. Motagua defeated their city rivals in the final series and conquered their 17th national title.
Regular season Standings
Results
Playoffs Results
Top goalscorers The top scorer was determined by the addition of goals of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments in all their phases.
As of 2 June 2019
24 goals:
Jerry Bengtson (Olimpia)
21 goals:
Jorge Benguché (UPNFM / Olimpia) Roberto Moreira (Motagua)
20 goals:
Justin Arboleda (Marathón)
16 goals:
Carlos Lanza (Juticalpa)
15 goals:
Yerson Gutiérrez (Honduras Progreso)
10 goals:
Franco Güity (Juticalpa / UPNFM) Frelys López (Honduras Progreso) Kevin López (Motagua)
9 goals:
Darixon Vuelto (Real España) Ángel Tejeda (Real España) Carlos Bernárdez (Vida) Óscar Salas (Olimpia / Juticalpa) Kilmar Peña (UPNFM)
8 goals:
Rubilio Castillo (Motagua) Yaudel Lahera (Marathón) Jhow Benavídez (Real España) Rundell Winchester (Platense) Erick Andino (Motagua) Carlos Discua (Marathón) Iván López (Real España)
7 goals:
Joshua Nieto (Platense) Javier Estupiñán (Motagua / Juticalpa) Marcelo Estigarribia (Motagua)
6 goals:
Rony Martínez (Olimpia / Real España) Juan Delgado (Honduras Progreso) Árnold Meléndez (UPNFM)
5 goals:
Jeancarlo Vargas (Platense) Israel Silva (Real de Minas) Carlo Costly (Olimpia / Marathón) Mario Martínez (Real España) Bryan Johnson (Marathón) Kervin Arriaga (Platense) Eddie Hernández (Vida) Juan Mejía (Real de Minas)
4 goals:
Alexander Aguilar (Platense) Diego Reyes (Olimpia / Platense) Gerson Rodas (Platense) José Tobías (H. Progreso / R. España) Johnny Leverón (Real España) Jesús Canales (Vida) Jesse Moncada (Real de Minas) Darwin Andino (Real de Minas) Marcelo Pereira (Motagua)
3 goals:
José Pinto (UPNFM) Ronald Montoya (UPNFM) James Cabezas (Juticalpa) Marvin Cálix (UPNFM) Júnior Lacayo (Olimpia) Michael Osorio (Vida / UPNFM) Foslyn Grant (Vida) Víctor Moncada (Juticalpa / UPNFM) Rembrandt Flores (Real de Minas) Elmer Güity (Olimpia) Aldo Oviedo (Real de Minas) Edwin Solano (Marathón) Henry Romero (Marathón)
2 goals:
Édgar Álvarez (Platense) Moisés López (Real de Minas) Miguel Flores (Vida) Samuel Córdova (Marathón) Óscar Padilla (Real de Minas) Jerrel Britto (Platense) Cholby Martínez (Vida) Brayan Velásquez (Olimpia) Kevin Álvarez (Olimpia) Júnior Padilla (UPNFM) Juan Bolaños (Platense) Walter Ramos (Honduras Progreso) Pedro Mencía (Platense) Nissi Sauceda (UPNFM) José Reyes (Olimpia) Luis Lobo (Platense / Juticalpa) Edwin Rodríguez (Olimpia) Jorge Álvarez (UPNFM / Olimpia) Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua) Diego Rodríguez (Real de Minas) Marlon Ramírez (Marathón) Erick Peña (Honduras Progreso) Jairo Puerto (Real España) Nelson Muñoz (Real de Minas) Matías Galvaliz (Motagua) Juan Montes (Motagua) Ever Alvarado (Olimpia)
1 goal:
Clinton Arzú (Honduras Progreso) Maylor Núñez (Juticalpa) Maximiliano Callorda (Real España) Carlos Mejía (Vida) Christian Martínez (UPNFM) Dábirson Castillo (Olimpia) Gétsel Montes (Real España) Jorge Claros (Real España) Lázaro Yánez (UPNFM) Román Valencia (Honduras Progreso) Franklyn Morales (Honduras Progreso) Marco Vega (Motagua) Brayan Acosta (Real de Minas) Álex Corrales (Real de Minas) Carlos Róchez (Marathón) Frédixon Elvir (Real de Minas) Jerry Palacios (Real de Minas) Luís Palma (Vida) Marvin Bernárdez (Vida) Richard Martínez (Real de Minas) Julián Galo (Real de Minas) Denis Meléndez (Vida) Elder Torres (Vida) Sergio Peña (Motagua) Walter Martínez (Motagua) Javier Portillo (Vida) César Oseguera (Real España) Denil Maldonado (Motagua) Luís Castro (Platense) Bayron Méndez (Juticalpa) Aldo Fajardo (Platense) Josué Villafranca (Motagua) Brayan Martínez (Marathón) Dylan Andrade (Honduras Progreso) Jorge Cardona (Honduras Progreso) Henry Ayala (Juticalpa) Luís Guzmán (Real de Minas) Ian Osorio (UPNFM) Bryan Bernárdez (Marathón) Emiliano Bonfigli (Olimpia) Esdras Padilla (Vida) Milton Castro (Honduras Progreso) Allans Vargas (Real España) German Mejía (Olimpia) Edgar Vásquez (UPNFM) Leandro Sosa (Olimpia) Alfredo Mejía (Real España) Kevin Maradiaga (Real de Minas) Jeffri Flores (Platense) Francisco Techera (Juticalpa) Marvin Barrios (Juticalpa) Óscar García (Real de Minas) Caue Fernandes (Marathón) Jeffry Miranda (Marathón) Devron García (Vida) Denis Lagos (UPNFM) Jairo Róchez (UPNFM) Erlin Gutiérrez (Honduras Progreso) José García (Real de Minas) Óliver Morazán (Juticalpa) Deybi Flores (Olimpia)
1 own-goal:
Brayan Acosta (Real de Minas) José Murillo (Juticalpa) Luis González (Honduras Progreso) Wilfredo Barahona (Juticalpa) Esdras Padilla (Real de Minas) Luís Castro (Platense) Juan Montes (Motagua) Martín Bonjour (Olimpia) Walter Ramos (Honduras Progreso) Marcelo Pereira (Motagua)
Aggregate table Relegation was determined by the aggregated table of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments. After 36 rounds, C.D. Real de Minas, Juticalpa F.C. and C.D. Honduras Progreso finished with 31 points each, with the goal difference being irrelevant. All three teams had to play a one round-robin playoff to determine the team to be relegated. It was only the second time in league's history that three teams were involved in a relegation triangular, the first one being held back in 1989.
Relegation playoffs
Controversies Right off the start of the season, week 1 was involved with controversy. Platense F.C. accused F.C. Motagua for instructing the ball boys of hiding and holding the sideline balls in the last minutes of play, making it difficult to resume the game when the match ball went out of play. Motagua was later fined for this action. That same day, in San Pedro Sula, C.D. Marathón requested C.D.S. Vida players to pay tribute to the club with El Pasillo, (the act of acknowledging the winners of the previous season), a tradition which is very popular in Spain, but not in Honduras. The Vida footballers strongly rejected the request. One week later, Vida simulated the Pasillo action after scoring a goal against Juticalpa F.C., a clear sign of mockery. After a 1–1 draw between C.D. Marathón and Club Deportivo Olimpia in the Clásico Nacional on week 3, a very irritated Marathón's coach Héctor Vargas, criticized the referee's performance and insinuated Olimpia's intervention at halftime by calling the referees to fix the match. Vargas also stated that his team with few resources is fighting on all fronts, and others with greater investments made a fool of themselves at international competitions; a clear dart to Real C.D. España who were eliminated from the 2018 CONCACAF League a few days earlier. Olimpia's manager, Nahúm Espinoza decided not to comment. However, Real España's Martín García expressed that Vargas is a very harmful person and his comments only reflect cowardice. Vargas replied back and called García a fat man. Vargas later announced that he will keep silent for 90 days; however, the Northern Discipline Commission cited Vargas to testify for violating discriminatory codes. He was suspended for three games.