The 2017–18 Honduran Liga Nacional season was the 52nd Honduran Liga Nacional edition since its establishment in 1965. For this season, the system format remained the same as the previous season. The tournament started on 28 July 2017 and ended on 19 May 2018. The season was divided into two halves (Apertura and Clausura), each crowning one champion. C.D. Marathón, as the team with the best record, qualified to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. Real C.D. España and F.C. Motagua qualified to the 2018 CONCACAF League.
2017–18 teams
A total of 10 teams contested the tournament, including 9 sides from the 2016–17 season plus Lobos UPNFM, promoted from the 2016–17 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 España San Pedro Sula Estadio Francisco Morazán 26,781 Real Sociedad Tocoa Estadio Francisco Martínez Durón 3,000 UPNFM Tegucigalpa Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino 35,000 Vida La Ceiba Estadio Nilmo Edwards 18,000
Motagua changed its name from Club Deportivo Motagua to Fútbol Club Motagua. F.C. Motagua used Comayagua and Choluteca as alternate venues in some games. Lobos UPNFM used Comayagua and Choluteca as alternate venues in some games.
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Vacancy Replaced by Appointment Position in table Juticalpa José Durón Sacked 18 May 2017 Mauro Reyes 18 May 2017LaPrensa.hn – El Juticalpa FC presenta a Mauro Reyes como técnico – 18 May 2017 Preseason Marathón Manuel Keosseián Resigned 6 June 2017 Héctor Vargas 6 June 2017LaPrensa.hn – Primicia: Héctor Vargas, nuevo DT del Marathón en reemplazo de Keosseián – 6 June 2017 Preseason Vida Santiago Fúnez Sacked 7 June 2017 Héctor Castellón 6 June 2017LaPrensa.hn – Héctor Castellón, nuevo entrenador del Vida – 7 June 2017 Preseason Real Sociedad Héctor Medina Sacked 26 June 2017 Carlos Martínez 26 June 2017LaTribuna.hn – Carlos “Carlón” Martínez nuevo técnico de Real Sociedad – 26 June 2017 Preseason Honduras Progreso Wilmer Cruz Resigned 5 September 2017 Nerlin Membreño 5 September 2017LaPrensa.hn – Nerlin Membreño reemplaza al Wilmer Cruz en el Honduras Progreso – 5 September 2017 9th Platense Reynaldo Clavasquín Sacked 20 September 2017 Jorge Lozano 21 September 2017 10th Real Sociedad Carlos Martínez Resigned 1 October 2017 Douglas Munguía 4 October 2017 9th Real España Ramón Maradiaga Resigned 23 October 2017 Erick Gallegos 24 October 2017 5th Real España Erick Gallegos Replaced 7 November 2017 Martín García 7 November 2017 7th Honduras Progreso Nerlin Membreño Sacked 12 December 2017 Horacio Londoño 27 December 2017 Mid-season Platense Jairo Ríos Sacked 28 January 2018 Carlos Martínez 28 January 2018 10th Juticalpa Mauro Reyes Sacked 15 February 2018 Ramón Maradiaga 15 February 2018 10th Olimpia Carlos Restrepo Sacked 20 March 2018 Nahúm Espinoza 20 March 2018 3rd
Apertura The Apertura tournament was the first half of the 2017–18 season which ran from July to December 2017. The first game of the season was played on 29 July between Club Deportivo Olimpia and new newcomers Lobos UPNFM which ended in a 1–0 victory for the home club.LNPhn.com – Calendario de Juegos Primera Vuelta Campeonato de Apertura 2017-2018 – 14 July 2017 This game in fact corresponds to week 4, however, Olimpia requested a reschedule as they faced Liga Deportiva Alajuelense on that same week for the 2017 CONCACAF League. On 18 August, la entire week 3 was cancelled due to a referee's strike, who requested for a salary increase which was rejected.DiarioMas.hn – Árbitros de Honduras se van a huelga – 18 August 2017 On 2 September, C.D. Honduras Progreso played against Lobos UPNFM at Estadio Humberto Micheletti, a game which was witnessed only by 56 spectators, one more over the current record implemented by Palestino F.C. v Pumas UNAH (55 in 1998). On 24 September, F.C. Motagua paid a visit to Platense F.C. at Estadio Excélsior; Motagua came with a long 21-game unbeaten run carried since last season; on the other hand, Platense were at the bottom of the league standings. Motagua scored 3 consecutive goals in the first 60 minutes of play to obtain a comfortable lead; however, in the last 20+ minutes of the match, Platense scored 4 goals to give the Selacios the most unlikely win of the season so far. On 19 November, C.D. Marathón defeated Olimpia 0–1 and clinched the first position in the regular standings for their fifth time in history. Three of the four playoff matches were rescheduled due to the 2017 Honduran political crisis. During the 1st leg of the semifinal between Real C.D. España and C.D. Marathón, referee Armando Castro gave Real España a non-existing penalty. Furious fans from the opposite side invaded the pitch and started throwing rocks to policemen and referees. Police answered with tear gas bombs and the authorities decided to suspend the match. The other semifinal between Olimpia and Motagua was also suspended due to lack of security guarantees. On 14 December, the League informed that without safety measures, they will not scheduled any other games until further notice. On 18 December, due to the pressing situation, the League decided to play the rest of the tournament in closed doors, except for the final series. Real España obtained their 12th national title after beating Motagua in the final with a 3–2 global score.
Regular season
Standings
Results As of 23 November 2017
Postseason Results
Olimpia won 4–2 on aggregate.
Real España won 5–2 on aggregate.
First leg was partially played on 13 December after being suspended at 71' (2–0) due to crowd invading the pitch. Match was resumed on 21 December. Real España won 4–3 on aggregate.
Motagua 3–3 Olimpia on aggregate. Motagua advanced on regular season record.
Real España won 3–2 on aggregate.
Clausura The Clausura tournament was the second half of the 2017–18 season which ran from January to May 2018. The schedule was released on 9 December 2017. On 15 April, F.C. Motagua's winger Wilmer Crisanto scored the 20,000th goal in the history of the league. C.D. Marathón finished first in the regular season standings for their second tournament in a row. Just as the previous tournament; Marathón, Motagua, Club Deportivo Olimpia and Real C.D. España reached the semifinals round. On 5 May, Marathón qualified to their 18th final and their first one since 2014. One day later, Motagua eliminated Olimpia and qualified to their 4th consecutive final. It was the 4th time in the league's history that the final series was played between the contenders of the M's Derby. Marathón obtained their 9th national title and Motagua lost their second final in a row.
Regular season
Standings
Results As of 15 April 2018
Postseason Results
Olimpia won 2–1 on aggregate.
Real España 1–1 Honduras Progreso on aggregate. Real España advanced on regular season record.
Marathón won 3–1 on aggregate.
Motagua 1–1 Olimpia on aggregate. Motagua advanced on regular season record.
Marathón 1–1 Motagua on aggregate. Marathón won 5–4 on penalty shoot-outs.
Top goalscorers The top goalscorer was determined by the addition of goals of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments.
As of 19 May 2018
24 goals:
Justin Arboleda (Marathón)
23 goals:
Román Castillo (Motagua)
14 goals:
Jamal Charles (Vida)
12 goals:
Brunet Hay (Platense) Carlos Lanza (Juticalpa)
11 goals:
Jairo Róchez (UPNFM)
10 goals:
Darixon Vuelto (Real España) Ángel Tejeda (Real España) Carlo Costly (Olimpia) Júnior Lacayo (Marathón) Franco Güity (Juticalpa) Osman Melgares (Real Sociedad) Brayan Velásquez (Olimpia)
9 goals:
Michaell Chirinos (Olimpia) Mario Martínez (Real España) Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad / Olimpia) Carlos Sánchez (Honduras Progreso)
8 goals:
Roger Rojas (Olimpia) Iván López (Real España) Víctor Moncada (Vida / Juticalpa) Walter Martínez (Motagua) Javier Estupiñán (Olimpia / Motagua)
7 goals:
Marco Vega (Motagua) Alexander Aguilar (Platense) Frelys López (Honduras Progreso) Gerson Tinoco (Juticalpa) Domingo Zalazar (Real España) Mayron Flores (UPNFM) Yaudel Lahera (Marathón)
6 goals:
Franklyn Morales (Honduras Progreso) Rony Martínez (Olimpia) Juan Ocampo (Juticalpa) Christian Altamirano (Real España)
5 goals:
Hilder Colón (Juticalpa) Jerrel Britto (H. Progreso / R. Sociedad) Elmer Güity (Juticalpa) Eddie Hernández (Motagua)
4 goals:
Román Valencia (UPNFM) Edder Delgado (Real España) Jorge Benguché (Olimpia / UPNFM) Juan Rodríguez (Marathón) Johnny Leverón (Marathón) Jorge Cardona (Honduras Progreso) John Suazo (Marathón) Brayan Ramírez (Juticalpa) Jhow Benavídez (Real España) Henry Romero (Marathón) Júnior Padilla (UPNFM) Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua) Rundell Winchester (Platense)
3 goals:
Shannon Welcome (Real Sociedad) James Cabezas (Juticalpa) Roberto Riascos (Real Sociedad) Arnold Meléndez (UPNFM) Akeem Roach (Vida) Joshua Nieto (Platense) Pedro Mencía (Honduras Progreso) Carlos Discua (Motagua) Marlon Ramírez (Juticalpa) Alexander López (Olimpia) Cristian Cálix (Marathón) Bryan Martínez (Marathón)
2 goals:
Claudio Cardozo (Real España) Omar Elvir (Motagua) Ever Alvarado (Olimpia) Ronald Montoya (UPNFM) César Guillén (Vida) Kervin Arriaga (Platense) Juan Montes (Motagua) Jesús Canales (Olimpia) Reinieri Mayorquín (Motagua) Luis Palma (Vida) Luis Lobo (Platense) Carlos Róchez (UPNFM) Kevin Álvarez (Olimpia) Chestyn Onofre (Honduras Progreso / Vida) Bryan Johnson (H. Progreso / Marathón) Kevin López (Motagua) André Ettienne (Honduras Progreso) Edwin León (Honduras Progreso) Henry Martínez (Honduras Progreso) Rossel Cacho (Real Sociedad) Bayron Méndez (Olimpia / Platense) Ian Osorio (Platense) Allan Banegas (Marathón) Jeancarlo Vargas (Platense) Michael Osorio (Vida) Allans Vargas (Real España) Carlos Mejía (Olimpia)
1 goal:
Óscar Salas (Olimpia) Patrick Palacios (Real España) Pastor Martínez (Honduras Progreso) Kendrick Cárcamo (Real Sociedad) Pablo Arzú (Real Sociedad) Fabián Castillo (Platense) Esdras Padilla (Juticalpa) Richard Rodríguez (Vida) Carlos Palacios (Vida) Mario Berríos (Marathón) César Oseguera (Real España) Nixon Duarte (Juticalpa) Lázaro Yánez (UPNFM) Javier Portillo (Vida) Luis Castro (Platense) José Reyes (Olimpia) Édgar Álvarez (Platense) Secundino Martínez (Real Sociedad) Henry Figueroa (Motagua) Joshua Vargas (Marathón) José Tobías (Olimpia) Frédixon Elvir (Honduras Progreso) Mario Flores (Real Sociedad) Clinton Arzú (UPNFM) José Arévalo (Real España) Hermes Castillo (UPNFM) Cholby Martínez (Platense) Kevin Caminos (Honduras Progreso) Robbie Matute (Real Sociedad) Rigoberto Padilla (UPNFM) Sergio Peña (Real Sociedad) Nissi Sauceda (UPNFM) Maycol Montero (UPNFM) José Murillo (Juticalpa) Miguel Flores (Vida) Juan Delgado (Honduras Progreso) Erick Andino (Motagua) Enuar Salgado (Real Sociedad) Brayan García (Vida) Mariano Acevedo (Honduras Progreso) Brayan Figueroa (Platense) Roby Norales (Platense) Marvin Bernárdez (Vida) Óliver Morazán (Juticalpa) Marcelo Pereira (Motagua) Dílmer Gutiérrez (Real Sociedad) Gerson Rodas (Olimpia) Elder Torres (Vida) Aldo Oviedo (Juticalpa) Eduardo Martínez (Real España) Malik St. Prix (Vida)
1 own goal:
Michael Osorio (Vida) Omar Elvir (Motagua) José Quiroz (Real España) Wilfredo Barahona (Real España) Jeffri Flores (Platense) Bryan Bernárdez (Marathón) Luis Castro (Platense) Marcos Martínez (Platense) Justin Arboleda (Marathón) Roy Smith (Honduras Progreso) Luis Lobo (Platense) Getsel Montes (Real España) Sergio Peña (Real Sociedad) Juan Montes (Motagua)