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. The final match was played in the evening of 25 October, just a few hours before
Hurricane Mitch
Hurricane Mitch was an extremely deadly and catastrophic Atlantic hurricane, which became the second-deadliest tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin on record. Mitch caused 11,374 fatalities in Central America in 1998, including approximately ...
landed in the coasts of
Honduras
Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, ...
.
1997–98 teams
*
Independiente Villela (''invited'')
*
Marathón
*
Motagua
*
Olimpia
*
Palestino
The term ''Palestino'' is the Spanish word for "Palestinian". The word "''Palestino''" is used in Cuba as a disparaging nickname for illegal migrants within the country. The nickname is used as a rhetorical device, that compares illegal migrants ...
(''promoted'')
*
Platense
*
Real España
*
Real Maya
Real Maya was a Honduran football club.
History
The club was founded on 7 April 1985. They played in first division many season with many different names, Real Maya being the most used. In the 2002/2003 season they took the place of Real Com ...
*
Universidad
*
Victoria
*
Vida
Apertura
Regular season
* ''Also serves as 1997
Honduran Cup
The Honduran Cup was the top knock-out Association football, football tournament in Honduras.
The first tournament was played in 1968 Honduran Cup, 1968, four years later the second tournament took the name ''Copa Presidente'' () in honor of Dr. R ...
.''
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 2–2 Olimpia on aggregate; Motagua advanced on better Regular season record.''
Final
* ''Motagua won 5–1 on aggregate.''
Top goalscorers
19 goals
*
Wilmer Velásquez
Wilmer Raynel Neal Velásquez (born April 28, 1972) is a retired Honduran Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. He was regarded as one of the greatest footballers in Honduran soccer for C.D. Ol ...
(
Olimpia)
11 goals
*
Juan Manuel Cárcamo (
Platense)
7 goals
*
Denilson Costa (
Olimpia)
*
Francisco RamÃrez (
Motagua)
*
Marlon Hernández (
Motagua)
6 goals
*
Amado Guevara
Amado Guevara (born 2 May 1976) is a Honduran former professional footballer and manager. He was the coach of Puerto Rico from 2018 to 2019.
A former midfielder, he is the second all-time cap leader for the Honduras national team seconded by ...
(
Motagua)
*
Alex Pineda Chacón (
Olimpia)
5 goals
*
Alexis Duarte
Alexis David Duarte Pereira (born 12 March 2000) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow.
Club career
Duarte started his career with Paraguayan Primera División side C ...
(
Marathón)
*
Jairo MartÃnez (
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
* ''Motagua won 1–0 on aggregate.''
Top goalscorers
15 goals
*
Wilmer Velásquez
Wilmer Raynel Neal Velásquez (born April 28, 1972) is a retired Honduran Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. He was regarded as one of the greatest footballers in Honduran soccer for C.D. Ol ...
(
Olimpia)
*
Amado Guevara
Amado Guevara (born 2 May 1976) is a Honduran former professional footballer and manager. He was the coach of Puerto Rico from 2018 to 2019.
A former midfielder, he is the second all-time cap leader for the Honduras national team seconded by ...
(
Motagua)
13 goals
*
Denilson Costa (
Olimpia)
8 goals
*
Juan Manuel Cárcamo (
Platense)
7 goals
*
Marlon Hernández (
Olimpia)
*
Francisco RamÃrez (
Marathón)
*
Rodinei Martins (
Olimpia)
*
Toninho (
Marathón)
5 goals
*
Alejandro NaÃf (
Victoria)
*
Marvin Brown (
Vida)
*
Luis RamÃrez (
Independiente Villela)
2 goals
*
Carlos Salinas (
Motagua)
*
Fabricio Pérez (
Marathón)
1 goal
* Alexander DÃaz (
Real España)
*
Enrique Reneau (
Marathón)
Relegation table
Squads
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
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
and
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
. 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
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Honduran Liga Nacional
1
Honduras
Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, ...
Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras seasons