2018–19 Liga Nacional de Honduras

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.

Honduras Progreso

Juticalpa

Marathón

Motagua

Olimpia

Platense

Real España

Lobos UPNFM

Real de Minas

Vida

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Location of teams in 2018–19 season

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.

• 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.

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Vacancy	Replaced by	Appointment	Position in table
Juticalpa	Ramón Maradiaga	Banned[1]	2 May 2018	Héctor Castellón	1 June 2018	Preseason
Real de Minas	Reynaldo Tilguath	Replaced[2]	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[3]	Play-offs

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.^[4] 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.^[5] Motagua, their rivals on the other side, qualified to their fifth consecutive final.^[6] With a 2–1 aggregate score, Motagua conquered their 16th national title.^[7]

Platense v UPNFM

14 November 2018 Quarterfinals	Platense	1–1	UPNFM	Puerto Cortés
19:15	Nieto 84' (pen.) Starting XI (GK) Zúniga – 1 Bolaños – 3 Matute – 4 Lobo – 9  46' Álvarez – 10 Vargas – 12 Flores – 21 Aguilar – 22  67' Rodas –24 Mendoza – 25 Arriaga – 33 Substitutes  46' Fajardo – 13  67' Nieto – 8 Coach Martínez (HON)	Report	39' (pen.) Benguché Starting XI 1 – Valladares (GK) 6 – Reyes 9 – Benguché  86' 14 – Castillo 15 – Urmeneta 16 – Montoya 21 – Peña  61' 23 – Álvarez 26 – Osorio 27 – Pinto  46' 29 – Fernández Substitutes 8 – Cálix  46' 11 – Meléndez  61' 17 – Gutiérrez  86' Coach (HON) Nazar	Stadium: Estadio Excélsior Attendance: 1,531 Referee: Erick Andino

UPNFM v Platense

17 November 2018 Quarterfinals	UPNFM	0–1 (1–2 agg.)	Platense	Choluteca
19:00	Starting XI (GK) Valladares – 1 Reyes – 6 Benguché – 9 Castillo – 14 Urmeneta – 15 Montoya – 16 Gutiérrez – 17  51' Peña – 21 Álvarez – 23  66' Osorio – 26  59' Pinto – 27 Substitutes  51' Meléndez – 11  59' Cálix – 11  66' Padilla – 10 Coach Nazar (HON)	Report	6' Winchester Starting XI 1 – Zúniga (GK) 3 – Bolaños 4 – Matute 7 – Winchester  76' 8 – Nieto 12 – Vargas 21 – Flores 22 – Aguilar  89' 24 – Rodas  58' 25 – Mendoza 33 – Arriaga Substitutes 14 – Reyes  58' 17 – Britto  76' 2 – Castro  89' Coach (HON) Martínez	Stadium: Estadio Emilio Williams Agasse Attendance: 2,387 Referee: Héctor Rodríguez

Real España v Marathón

14 November 2018 Quarterfinals	Real España	2–0	Marathón	San Pedro Sula
19:00	Benavídez 34' (pen.) Vuelto 78' (pen.) Starting XI (GK) R. López – 12 Montes – 2 Puerto – 6 Martínez – 10 Vargas – 15 Leverón – 16  85' Claros – 17 Vuelto – 18 I. López – 19 Delgado – 23  60' Benavídez – 38 Substitutes  60' Arita – 20  85' Quiroz – 45 Coach García (URU)	Report	Arboleda Starting XI 25 – Torres (GK) 2 – Bernárdez 3 – Córdova 7 – Discua 8 – Róchez  81' 9 – Ramírez  57' 16 – Banegas 21 – Smith 27 – Arboleda 29 – Johnson 38 – Martínez  57' Substitutes – Vargas  57' 24 – Lahera  57' 22 – Romero  81' Coach (ARG) Vargas	Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán Attendance: 3,979 Referee: Nelson Salgado

Marathón v Real España

17 November 2018 Quarterfinals	Marathón	3–2 (3–4 agg.)	Real España	San Pedro Sula
15:00	Arboleda 3' 36' Discua 65' Starting XI (GK) Torres – 25 Bernárdez – 2  34' Córdova – 3 Discua – 7  62' Ramírez – 9  57' Espinoza – 15 Lahera – 24 Arboleda – 27 Johnson – 29 Solano – 30 Martínez – 38 Substitutes  34' Smith – 21  57' Róchez – 8  62' Vargas – Coach Vargas (ARG)	Report	39' Tejeda 52' Oseguera Starting XI 12 – R. López (GK) 2 – Montes 6 – Puerto  69' 10 – Martínez  81' 13 – Tejeda 15 – Vargas  67'  85' 17 – Claros 18 – Vuelto  90+5' 19 – I. López 23 – Delgado 28 – Oseguera Substitutes 4 – Velásquez  69' 45 – Quiroz  81' 49 – Martínez  90+5' Coach (URU) García	Stadium: Estadio Yankel Rosenthal Attendance: 2,989 Referee: Melvin Matamoros

Platense v Motagua

25 November 2018 Semifinals	Platense	0–1	Motagua	Puerto Cortés
16:00	Starting XI (GK) Zúniga – 1 Bolaños – 3 Matute – 4 Winchester – 7  47' Vargas – 12  60' Reyes – 14 Flores – 21 Aguilar – 22  56' Rodas – 24 Mendoza – 25 Arriaga – 33 Substitutes  47' Altamirano – 11  56' Fajardo – 13  60' Benítez – 30 Coach Martínez (HON)	Report	49' López Starting XI 19 – Rougier (GK) 2 – Montes 6 – Mayorquín  85' 8 – Martínez 9 – Castillo  86' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Maldonado 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 34 – López  83' Substitutes 7 – Andino  83' 4 – Peña  85' 22 – Estupiñán  86' Coach (ARG) Vásquez	Stadium: Estadio Excélsior Attendance: 4,398 Referee: Melvin Matamoros

Motagua v Platense

2 December 2018 Semifinals	Motagua	3–1 (4–1 agg.)	Platense	Tegucigalpa
16:00	López 30' Maldonado 48' Crisanto 84' Starting XI (GK) Rougier – 19 Montes – 2 Mayorquín – 6  75' Castillo – 9  66' Galvaliz – 10 Santos – 12  46' Castellanos – 16 Maldonado – 17 Moreira – 21 Elvir – 24 López – 34 Substitutes  46' Peña – 4  66' Martínez – 8  75' Crisanto – 18 Coach Vásquez (ARG)	Report	76' Castro Starting XI 1 – Zúniga (GK) 3 – Bolaños 4 – Matute 7 – Winchester 8 – Nieto 17 – Britto 21 – Flores  46' 22 – Aguilar 25 – Mendoza 30 – Benítez  57' 33 – Arriaga Substitutes 2 – Castro  46' 12 – Vargas  57' Coach (HON) Martínez	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: 13,784 Referee: Saíd Martínez

Real España v Olimpia

24 November 2018 Semifinals	Real España	2–2	Olimpia	San Pedro Sula
19:00	Tejeda 11' Vuelto 55' Starting XI (GK) R. López – 12 Montes – 2 Puerto – 6 Mejía – 8  82' Martínez – 10 Tejeda – 13 Leverón – 16  77' Vuelto – 18 I. López – 19 Oseguera – 28 Benavídez – 38 Substitutes  77' Delgado – 23  82' Guevara – 37 Coach García (URU)	Report	50' Velásquez 59' Álvarez Starting XI 1 – Menjívar (GK) 2 – Álvarez 5 – Alvarado 7 – C. Mejía  82' 9 – D. Reyes  87' 17 – Paz 20 – Flores 21 – Espíndola 23 – Velásquez  76' 27 – Bengtson 31 – Thomas Substitutes 24 – J. Reyes  76' 14 – Lacayo  82' 29 – G. Mejía  87' Coach (URU) Keosseián	Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano Attendance: 10,541 Referee: Héctor Rodríguez

Olimpia v Real España

1 December 2018 Semifinals	Olimpia	0–0 (2–2 agg.)	Real España	Tegucigalpa
19:00	Starting XI (GK) Menjívar – 1 Álvarez – 2 Alvarado – 5 C. Mejía – 7  74' D. Reyes – 9 Paz – 17 Flores – 20 Espíndola – 21  74' Velásquez – 23  90' Bengtson – 27 Thomas – 31 Substitutes  74' Lacayo – 14  74' J. Reyes – 24  90' G. Mejía – 29 Coach Keosseián (URU)	Report	Starting XI 12 – R. López (GK) 2 – Montes 6 – Puerto 10 – Martínez 13 – Tejeda 15 – Vargas 18 – Vuelto 19 – I. López 23 – Delgado  66' 28 – Oseguera 38 – Benavídez  84' Substitutes 17 – Claros  66' 8 – Mejía  84' Coach (URU) García	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: 22,383 Referee: Armando Castro

Olimpia v Motagua

9 December 2018 Final	Olimpia	0–2	Motagua	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Starting XI (GK) Menjívar – 1 Álvarez – 2 Alvarado – 5 Castillo – 6  57' Martínez – 12  31'  32' Paz – 17 Flores – 20 Espíndola – 21 Reyes – 24  84' Bengtson – 27  75' Thomas – 31 Substitutes  57' C. Mejía – 7  75' G. Mejía – 29  84' Costly – 13 Coach Keosseián (URU)	Report	64' Castillo 71' Moreira Starting XI 19 – Rougier (GK) 2 – Montes 6 – Mayorquín  62' 9 – Castillo 10 – Galvaliz  77' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos  83' 17 – Maldonado 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 34 – López Substitutes 8 – Martínez  62' 4 – Peña  77' 5 – Pereira  83' Coach (ARG) Vásquez	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: 23,350 Referee: Héctor Rodríguez

Motagua v Olimpia

16 December 2018 Final	Motagua	0–1 (2–1 agg.)	Olimpia	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Starting XI (GK) Rougier – 19 Montes – 2  74' Mayorquín – 6 Castillo – 9  64' Galvaliz – 10 Santos – 12 Castellanos – 16 Maldonado – 17 Moreira – 21 Elvir – 24  87' López – 34 Substitutes  64' Martínez – 8  74' Peña – 4  87' Andino – 7 Coach Vásquez (ARG)	Report	78' (o.g.) Montes Starting XI 1 – Menjívar (GK) 2 – Álvarez 3 – Güity 5 – Alvarado  61' 7 – C. Mejía  46' 13 – Costly 17 – Paz 20 – Flores 21 – Espíndola 27 – Bengtson 29 – G. Mejía  72' Substitutes 26 – Salas  46' 14 – Lacayo  61' 9 – Reyes  72' Coach (URU) Keosseián	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: 22,701 Referee: Melvin Matamoros

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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.

Platense v Motagua

1 May 2019 Quarterfinals	Platense	0–0	Motagua	Puerto Cortés
16:00	Starting XI (GK) Zúniga – 1 Bolaños – 3 Matute – 4 Martínez – 5 Winchester – 7  25' Nieto – 8  73' Reyes – 11 Vargas – 12 Flores – 21  68' Aguilar – 22 Arriaga – 33 Substitutes  25' Mendoza – 25  68' Mencía – 23  73' Fajardo – 13 Coach Caballero (HON)	Report	Starting XI 19 – Rougier (GK) 2 – Montes 4 – Peña 5 – Pereira 10 – Galvaliz  85' 11 – Vega  90+3' 16 – Castellanos 17 – Maldonado 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 34 – López  65' Substitutes 18 – Crisanto  65' 31 – Sánchez  85' 6 – Mayorquín  90+3' Coach (ARG) Vásquez	Stadium: Estadio Excélsior Referee: Erick Andino

Motagua v Platense

5 May 2019 Quarterfinals	Motagua	3–0 (3–0 agg.)	Platense	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Moreira 26' (pen.) 44' 50' Starting XI (GK) Rougier – 19 Montes – 2 Peña – 4 Pereira – 5  74' Galvaliz – 10  82' Castellanos – 16 Maldonado – 17 Moreira – 21  46' Estigarribia – 22 Elvir – 24 López – 34 Substitutes  46' Vega – 11  74' Crisanto – 18  82' Martínez – 8 Coach Vásquez (ARG)	Report	Starting XI 1 – Zúniga (GK) 3 – Bolaños  75' 4 – Matute 5 – Martínez 7 – Winchester 9 – Pineda  46' 12 – Vargas 21 – Flores 22 – Aguilar  46' 25 – Mendoza 33 – Arriaga Substitutes 11 – Reyes  46' 23 – Mencía  46' Coach (HON) Caballero	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Referee: Raúl Castro

UPNFM v Real España

1 May 2019 Quarterfinals	UPNFM	3–1	Real España	Choluteca
15:00	Róchez 38' Meléndez 40' Güity 60' Starting XI (GK) Valladares – 1 Reyes – 6  71' Róchez – 9  29' Castillo – 14 Urmeneta – 15 Montoya – 16 Sauceda – 20  57' Peña – 21 Osorio – 26 Fernández – 29 Vásquez – 50 Substitutes  29' Meléndez – 11  57' Güity – 77  71' Padilla – 10 Coach Nazar (HON)	Report	23' Puerto Starting XI 22 – L. López (GK) 2 – Montes 5 – Flores  46' 6 – Puerto  64' 8 – Mejía 10 – M. Martínez  64' 11 – R. Martínez 15 – Vargas 18 – Vuelto 20 – Tobías 23 – Delgado Substitutes 38 – Benavídez  46' 13 – Tejeda  64' 19 – I. López  64' Coach (COL) Restrepo	Stadium: Estadio Emilio Williams Agasse Referee: Nelson Salgado

Real España v UPNFM

5 May 2019 Quarterfinals	Real España	1–2 (2–5 agg.)	UPNFM	San Pedro Sula
18:00	López 41' Starting XI (GK) L. López – 22 Montes – 2  52' M. Martínez – 10 R. Martínez – 11 García – 14 Vargas – 15  64' Claros – 17 Vuelto – 18 I. López – 19 Tobías – 20 Benavídez – 38 Substitutes  52' Puerto – 6  64' Tejeda – 13 Coach Restrepo (COL)	Report	35' Peña 76' (pen.) Meléndez Starting XI 1 – Valladares (GK) 6 – Reyes 9 – Róchez  62' 14 – Castillo 15 – Urmeneta 16 – Montoya 20 – Sauceda 21 – Peña  53' 26 – Osorio 29 – Fernández 50 – Vásquez Substitutes 77 – Güity  53' 11 – Meléndez  62' Coach (HON) Nazar	Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán Referee: Óscar Moncada

UPNFM v Olimpia

11 May 2019 Semifinals	UPNFM	1–3	Olimpia	Choluteca
15:00	Meléndez 63' Starting XI (GK) Valladares – 1 Reyes – 6 Róchez – 9  34' Castillo – 14  60' Urmeneta – 15 Montoya – 16 Sauceda – 20  45' Peña – 21 Osorio – 26 Fernández – 29 Vásquez – 50 Substitutes  34' Meléndez – 11  45' Güity – 77  60' Moncada – 24 Coach Nazar (HON)	Report	11' 57' 72' Benguché Starting XI 1 – Menjívar (GK) 3 – Güity 5 – Alvarado 9 – Benguché  84' 10 – Sosa  64' 17 – Paz 20 – Flores 23 – Álvarez 24 – Reyes  75' 26 – Núñez 27 – Bengtson Substitutes 29 – Mejía  64' 12 – Chavasco  75' 14 – Lacayo  84' Coach (URU) Keosseián	Stadium: Estadio Emilio Williams Agasse Referee: Melissa Borjas

Olimpia v UPNFM

19 May 2019 Semifinals	Olimpia	4–1 (7–2 agg.)	UPNFM	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Flores 9' Benguché 37' 70' Alvarado 67' Starting XI (GK) Menjívar – 1 Güity – 3 Alvarado – 5  76' Benguché – 9  85' Sosa – 10 Paz – 17 Flores – 20 Álvarez – 23  55' Reyes – 24 Núñez – 26 Bengtson – 27 Substitutes  55' Chavasco – 12  76' Lacayo – 14  85' Mejía – 7 Coach Keosseián (URU)	Report	62' Urmeneta Starting XI 1 – Mendoza (GK) 4 – Medina 7 – Fiallos 8 – Cálix 9 – Róchez 10 – Padilla  70' 13 – Yáñez 15 – Urmeneta 21 – Peña  46' 22 – Osorio 24 – Moncada  46' Substitutes 77 – Güity  46' 16 – Montoya  46' 11 – Meléndez  70' Coach (HON) Nazar	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Referee: Armando Castro

Motagua v Marathón

12 May 2019 Semifinals	Motagua	2–0	Marathón	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Galvaliz 9' López 64' Starting XI (GK) Rougier – 19 Montes – 2 Peña – 4  84' Galvaliz – 10  46' Castellanos – 16 Maldonado – 17 Moreira – 21  82' Estigarribia – 22 Elvir – 24  80' López – 34 Meléndez – 35 Substitutes  80' Crisanto – 18  82' Martínez – 8  84' Mayorquín – 6 Coach Vásquez (ARG)	Report	Starting XI 25 – Torres (GK) 2 – Bernárdez 3 – Córdova 4 – Fernandes  46' 7 – Discua  60' 15 – Espinoza 16 – Banegas  63' 23 – Flores  39' 27 – Arboleda 29 – Johnson 30 – Solano Substitutes 8 – Róchez  39' 13 – Costly  60' 38 – Martínez  63' Coach (ARG) Vargas	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Referee: Saíd Martínez

Marathón v Motagua

18 May 2019 Semifinals	Marathón	2–2 (2–4 agg.)	Motagua	San Pedro Sula
15:00	Arboleda 36' 41' Starting XI (GK) Torres – 25 Bernárdez – 2 Córdova – 3  80' Discua – 7 Costly – 13  68' Espinoza – 15 Banegas – 16  62' Lahera – 24 Arboleda – 27 Johnson – 29 Solano – 30 Substitutes  62' Róchez – 8  68' Ramírez – 9  80' Romero – 22 Coach Vargas (ARG)	Report	47' Estigarribia 73' Montes Starting XI 19 – Rougier (GK) 2 – Montes 4 – Peña 5 – Pereira 6 – Mayorquín  46' 10 – Galvaliz  66' 17 – Maldonado  52'  76' 21 – Moreira  53' 22 – Estigarribia 24 – Elvir 34 – López Substitutes 8 – Martínez  46' 11 – Vega  53' 35 – Meléndez  66' Coach (ARG) Vásquez	Stadium: Estadio Yankel Rosenthal Referee: Óscar Moncada

Motagua v Olimpia

26 May 2019 Final	Motagua	2–2	Olimpia	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Pereira 18' 22' Starting XI (GK) Rougier – 19 Montes – 2  86' Peña – 4 Pereira – 5  65' Galvaliz – 10 Castellanos – 16 Moreira – 21  71' Estigarribia – 22 Elvir – 24 López – 34 Meléndez – 35 Substitutes  65' Martínez – 8  71' Vega – 11  86' Mayorquín – 6 Coach Vásquez (ARG)	Report	2' Alvarado Bengtson 90' (o.g.) Pereira