# 2009–10 Honduran Liga Nacional

The 2009–10 Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras season is the 45th season of top-flight professional football in Honduras and the nineteenth season in which the Apertura and Clausura system is used.
Marathón and Olimpia claimed the Apertura and Clausura championships, respectively.

## Club information

Ten teams will participate in the 2009–10 season. Nine teams from last season remain for this season. Real Juventud were relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season. They would have been replaced by Liga Nacional de Ascenso de Honduras promotion play-off winners Atlético Gualala. However, both teams decided to merge under the name of Real Juventud prior to the season.
| Club | City |
| Deportes Savio | Santa Rosa de Copán |
| Hispano | Comayagua |
| Marathón | San Pedro Sula |
| Motagua | Tegucigalpa |
| Olimpia | Tegucigalpa |
| Platense | Puerto Cortés |
| Real España | San Pedro Sula |
| Real Juventud | Santa Bárbara |
| Victoria | La Ceiba |
| Vida | La Ceiba |

## Torneo Apertura

The Torneo Apertura began on July 18, 2009, and ended on November 25, 2009. Marathón, Motagua, Olimpia and Real España qualified for the Apertura final round after ending the tournament in the top four places.

### Classification stage
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Marathón | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 32 | 16 | +16 | 38 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 2 | Motagua | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 31 | 14 | +17 | 35 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 3 | Olimpia | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 30 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 4 | Real España | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 30 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 5 | Victoria | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 27 | −5 | 26 | |
| 6 | Platense | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 25 | −2 | 24 | |
| 7 | Vida | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 22 | 33 | −11 | 18 | |
| 8 | Deportes Savio | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 17 | |
| 9 | Hispano | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 15 | |
| 10 | Real Juventud | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 32 | −13 | 13 | |

#### Results

| Home \ Away | SAV | HIS | MAR | MOT | OLI | PLA | RES | RJU | VIC | VID |
| Deportes Savio | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Hispano | 1–0 | | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Marathón | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 |
| Motagua | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 |
| Olimpia | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 6–1 | 7–1 |
| Platense | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Real España | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Real Juventud | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Victoria | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 2–2 |
| Vida | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | |

### Final stage

The Final Stage ran from November 7, 2009, to November 25, 2009. Two-legged ties in this stage were settled by points: three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. Ties in points in the semifinals were settled first by goal difference, followed by the Classification Stage standings. A tie in points in the Finals would be settled by goal difference first, followed by two 15-minute extra-time periods, then a penalty shootout if necessary.

#### Semifinals

Semifinal A :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Marathón | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | Advanced to the Finals |
| 2 | Real España | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
* ↑ Marathón advanced because of better classification standing.
Semifinal B :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Olimpia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | Advanced to the Finals |
| 2 | Motagua | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 | |

#### Finals

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Marathón | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round |
| 2 | Olimpia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 | |
| Marathón | Olimpia |
Juan Obelar :
| RB | 23 | Mauricio Sabillón |
| CB | 4 | Máximo Lucas | 67' |
| CB | 5 | Erick Norales |
| LB | 6 | Juan Carlos García |
| CM | 3 | Astor Henríquez | 63' |
| CM | 19 | Mario Berríos |
| AM | 11 | Guillermo Ramírez | 73' |
| RF | 15 | Walter Martínez |
| CF | 10 | Jerry Palacios |
| LF | 22 | Mitchel Brown |
| Substitutions: |||
| MF | – | Mario Rodríguez | 63' |
| DF | – | Luis Santamaría | 67' |
| MF | – | Mariano Acevedo | 73' |
| Manager: |||
| Manuel Keosseian |||
Noel Valladares :
| RB | 30 | Johnny Palacios |
| CB | 4 | Fabio de Souza |
| CB | – | Jaime Rosales |
| LB | 7 | Rony Morales |
| DM | – | Franklin Arévalo |
| CM | – | Rubén Matamoros |
| CM | – | Johnny Calderón | 69' |
| AM | – | Danilo Turcios |
| CF | 11 | Wilmer Velásquez | 69' |
| CF | 33 | Ramiro Bruschi | 74' |
| Substitutions: |||
| MF | – | Erick Andino | 69' |
| FW | – | Everaldo Ferreira | 69' |
| FW | – | Jocimar Nascimento | 74' |
| Manager: |||
| Juan Carlos Espinoza |||
* Liga Nacional 2009–10 Apertura champion
* C.D. Marathón 8th title

### Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Jerry Palacios | Marathón | 13 |
| 2 | Georgie Welcome | Motagua | 11 |
| 3 | Mauricio Copete | Victoria | 9 |
| 4 | Mitchel Brown | Marathón | 8 |
| 4 | Wilmer Velásquez | Olimpia | 8 |
| 6 | Jerry Bengtson | Vida | 7 |
| 6 | Charles Córdoba | Vida | 7 |
| 6 | Harrison Róchez | Platense | 7 |
| 9 | Douglas Caetano | Real España | 6 |
| 10 | Pompilio Cacho | Real Juventud | 5 |
| 10 | Randy Diamond | Real Juventud | 5 |
| 10 | Sergio Diduch | Motagua | 5 |

## Torneo Clausura

The Torneo Clausura will begin in January 2010 and end in May 2010. The best four clubs will qualify for the Clausura final round.

### Classification stage
#### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Motagua | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 36 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 2 | Olimpia | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 11 | +15 | 32 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 3 | Vida | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 25 | 20 | +5 | 28 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 4 | Platense | 18 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 28 | Advanced to the Final Stage |
| 5 | Hispano | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 27 | |
| 6 | Real España | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 28 | 29 | −1 | 25 | |
| 7 | Marathón | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 24 | −1 | 19 | |
| 8 | Real Juventud | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 25 | 28 | −3 | 19 | |
| 9 | Deportes Savio | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 23 | −10 | 17 | |
| 10 | Victoria | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 15 | 37 | −22 | 11 | |
* ↑ Real Juventud was docked three points.

#### Results

| Home \ Away | SAV | HIS | MAR | MOT | OLI | PLA | RES | RJU | VIC | VID |
| Deportes Savio | | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Hispano | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Marathón | 3–0 | 2–3 | | 3–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Motagua | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 |
| Olimpia | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 2–1 |
| Platense | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Real España | 3–4 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Real Juventud | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Victoria | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | | 1–3 |
| Vida | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | |

### Final stage
#### Semifinals

Semifinal A :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Motagua | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Advanced to the Finals |
| 2 | Platense | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
* ↑ Motagua advanced because of better classification standing.
Semifinal B :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Olimpia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | Advanced to the Finals |
| 2 | Vida | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |
* ↑ Olimpia advanced because of better classification standing.

#### Final

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Olimpia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage |
| 2 | Motagua | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 | 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round |
* ↑ As champion with better aggregate record.
* ↑ Berth reallocated from Nicaragua.
| Olimpia | Motagua |
Donis Escober :
| DF | 4 | Fabio de Souza |
| DF | 30 | Johnny Palacios |
| DF | 32 | Oscar García |
| DF | 19 | Johnny Calderón |
| MF | 20 | Walter Hernández |
| MF | 10 | Danilo Turcios (C) | 67' |
| MF | – | Ramón Núñez | 84' |
| FW | – | Reynaldo Tilguath | 65' | 25' |
| FW | 21 | Roger Rojas |
| FW | – | Everaldo Ferreira | 75' |
| Substitutions: |||
| MF | – | Miguel Castillo | 65' | 76' |
| DF | – | Wilfredo Barahona | 67' |
| FW | 33 | Ramiro Bruschi | 75' |
| Manager: |||
| Carlos Restrepo |||
Ricardo Canales :
| DF | 3 | Guillermo Díaz |
| DF | 5 | Milton Reyes |
| DF | 23 | Sergio Mendoza |
| DF | 12 | Iván Guerrero |
| MF | 8 | Jorge Claros |
| MF | 21 | Emilio Izaguirre | 60' |
| MF | 6 | Mauricio Weber | 90' |
| MF | 20 | Amado Guevara (C) | 75' |
| FW | 11 | Marcelo Cabrita | 62' |
| FW | 7 | Georgie Welcome | 46' |
| Substitutions: |||
| FW | 10 | Sergio Diduch | 46' |
| MF | 36 | Javier Portillo | 60' |
| MF | 13 | Ronald Martínez | 75' |
| Manager: |||
| Ramón Maradiaga |||
| Motagua | Olimpia |
Donaldo Morales :
| DF | 3 | Guillermo Díaz |
| DF | 4 | Johnny Leverón |
| DF | 23 | Sergio Mendoza |
| DF | 12 | Iván Guerrero (C) |
| DF | 21 | Emilio Izaguirre |
| MF | 8 | Jorge Claros | 23' |
| MF | 13 | Ronald Martínez | 65' |
| MF | 6 | Mauricio Weber | 47' | 78' |
| FW | 11 | Marcelo Cabrita | 41' | 46' |
| FW | 7 | Georgie Welcome | 48' |
| Substitutions: |||
| FW | 9 | Shannon Welcome | 46' |
| MF | 36 | Javier Portillo | 65' |
| FW | 10 | Sergio Diduch | 78' |
| Manager: |||
| Ramón Maradiaga |||
Donis Escober :
| DF | 4 | Fábio de Souza |
| DF | 30 | Johnny Palacios | 41' |
| DF | 19 | Johnny Calderón | 66' |
| DF | 32 | Oscar García |
| MF | 20 | Walter Hernández |
| MF | 10 | Danilo Turcios (C) | 78' |
| MF | – | Ramón Núñez | 67' |
| FW | – | Reynaldo Tilguath | 82' |
| FW | 21 | Roger Rojas | 22' |
| FW | – | Everaldo Ferreira | 70' |
| Substitutions: |||
| MF | – | Miguel Castillo | 67' | 90' |
| FW | 33 | Ramiro Bruschi | 70' |
| MF | – | Frank Arévalo | 78' |
| Manager: |||
| Carlos Restrepo |||
* Olimpia won 3–2 on aggregate.
* Liga Nacional 2009–10 Clausura champion
* C.D. Olimpia 23rd title

### Top goalscorers

| Pos | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Jerry Bengtson | Vida | 12 |
| 2 | Carlos Pavón | Real España | 10 |
| 3 | Roger Rojas | Olimpia | 8 |
| 4 | Elmer Zelaya | Real Juventud | 7 |
| 5 | Mauricio Copete | Victoria | 6 |
| 5 | Charles Córdoba | Vida | 6 |
| 5 | Douglas Caetano | Real España | 6 |
| 5 | Héctor Flores | Hispano | 6 |
| 5 | Walter Martínez | Marathón | 5 |
| 5 | Georgie Welcome | Motagua | 6 |

## Relegation

Relegation to the 2010–11 Liga Nacional de Ascenso de Honduras is determined from an aggregate table of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. The team with the worst overall record will be relegated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Motagua | 36 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 59 | 29 | +30 | 71 | Qualified to the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Olimpia | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 55 | 27 | +28 | 62 | Qualified to the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Marathón | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 55 | 40 | +15 | 57 | Qualified to the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | Real España | 36 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 52 | 49 | +3 | 52 | |
| 5 | Platense | 36 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 52 | |
| 6 | Vida | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 47 | 53 | −6 | 46 | |
| 7 | Hispano | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 42 | |
| 8 | Victoria | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 62 | −25 | 40 | |
| 9 | Deportes Savio | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 26 | 46 | −20 | 34 | |
| 10 | Real Juventud | 36 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 44 | 60 | −16 | 32 | Relegated to the Liga Nacional de Ascenso |
* ↑ Real Juventud was docked three points for failing to settle debts to former players by April 12.