The 2002–03 season in the Honduran Liga Nacional was the 37th edition since the intervention of the professional league in Honduran football. The season was divided into two halves (Apertura and Clausura) which ran from August 2002 to June 2003.RSSSF.com–Honduras 2002/03–11 December 2009
2002–03 teams
Real Maya changed its name to Real Patepluma for the Clausura tournament and moved to Santa Bárbara.
Apertura The Apertura tournament lasted from August to December 2002, C.D. Olimpia defeated C.D. Platense in the Final to secure its 16th league title.
Regular season
Results As of 24 November 2002
Standings
Final round
Semifinals
Platense vs Real España
Platense won 2–1 on aggregate score.
Olimpia vs Marathón
Olimpia won 2–1 on aggregate score.
Final
Platense vs Olimpia
GK – Ricardo JamesRB – Elder ValladaresCB 4 José Anthony TorresLB 3 Ángel HillRM 10 Edgar ÁlvarezCM – Walter HernándezCM – Alex Andino LM – Reynaldo TilguathRW – Clifford Laing CF 9 Marcelo Ferreira LW – Pablo MedinaSubstitutions:MF – Elmer Blanco DF – Derrick Hulse FW – Francisco Ramírez Manager: Alberto Romero
GK – Donaldo GonzálezRB – Wilson PalaciosCB – Fabio UlloaCB – Milton PalaciosLB – Edwin ÁvilaCM 25 Óscar BonillaCM – Maynor Suazo AM 18 Danilo ToselloRF – Denilson CostaCF 9 Juan Manuel Cárcamo LF 11 Wilmer Velásquez Substitutions:FW – Eduardo Bennett MF 15 Francis Reyes Manager: Juan Carlos Espinoza
Olimpia won 3–2 on aggregate.
Liga Nacional2002–03 Apertura ChampionOlimpia16th title
Squads Honduras Salzburg Héctor "Tanqueta" Flores Luis "Bombero" Ramírez Carlos Escobar Juan "Montuca" Castro Luis Ramos Jimmy González Vinel Chamorro Marathón Carlos "Pupita" Güity Mauricio Sabillón Pompilio Cacho Emil Martínez Juan Pablo Centeno Víctor Coello Narciso "Kalusha" Fernández Darwin Pacheco Mario Berríos Behiker Bustillo Rubén Suazo Luis Santamaría Walter López Anael Figueroa Carlos Alberto Salinas Elvis Scott Luis Guifarro Leonardo Morales Mario López Dennis Ferrera Óscar Vargas Jean Carles Rosario Lenín Suárez Orvin "Pato" Cabrera David Cárcamo Alfredo Cristino Jara Lisandro Silva Silvian López David Cáceres Ilich Arias Motagua Elmer Montoya Júnior Izaguirre Mauricio Castro José Pacini Noel Valladares Carlos Oliva Henry Enamorado Nery Medina Víctor Mena Olimpia Danilo Tosello Donaldo González Wilmer Velásquez Donis Escober Denilson Costa Milton Palacios Suazo Wilson Palacios Hendry Thomas Maynor Suazo Hugo Caballero Francis Reyes José Luis Pineda Juan Manuel Cárcamo Eduardo Bennett Juan Carlos Raudales Óscar "Pescado" Bonilla Edwin Yobani Ávila Fabio Ulloa Platense Marcelo Ferreira Jorge Zapata Marvin Sánchez Elmer Zelaya Reynaldo Tilguath Ricardo James Edgar Álvarez Clifford Laing José Anthony Torres Gustavo Scioscia Pablo Medina David Meléndez Jorge Espinoza Rony Morales Ángel "Búfalo" Hill Walter Hernández Alex Andino Elder Valladares Derrick Hulse Francisco Ramírez Elmer Blanco Real España Nigel Zúniga Marlon José Peña Enrique Renau Jaime Rosales Rafael Betine Milton "Chocolate" Flores Júnior Morales Erick Vallecillo Sergio Mendoza Luciano Emílio Real Maya/Real Patepluma Rony Flores Cristino Bernárdez Universidad Jaime Ruíz Victoria Ricardo Gabriel "Gato" Canales John Bodden Carlos Lino Carlos Discua Ronald "Cuervo" Maradiaga Mario Chávez José García Luis Lagos Carlos "Tatín" Morán Pablo Bernárdez Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda Óscar Sorto Hesler Phillips Miguel "Gallo" Mariano Carlos "Calolo" Palacios Alex Roberto Bailey Máximo Arzú Wilmer Ramos Vida Jonathan Bush Sanders Luis Perdomo Renán "Chimbo" Aguilera Jorge Ocampo Jose Gonzales
Top goalscorers 15 goals Marcelo Ferreira (Platense) 11 goals Luciano Emílio (Real España) 6 goals Denilson Costa (Olimpia)
Clausura The Clausura tournament was played from February to June 2003. C.D. Marathón took revenge a year and a half later and defeated C.D. Motagua in the finals to claim its 4th league title.
Regular season
Results As of 10 May 2003
Standings
Final round
Semifinals
Olimpia vs Motagua
Motagua won 4–2 on aggregate score.
Marathón vs Real España
Marathón 2–2 Real España on aggregate score; Marathón advanced on better Regular season performance.
Final
Marathón vs Motagua
GK – Henry Enamorado CB – Víctor Bernárdez CB – Jorge Lozano CB – Elmer Montoya RWB – Samir García LWB – Iván Guerrero CM – Faussy Rodríguez CM – Víctor Mena CM – Mauricio Castro SS 6 Pablo Bocco CF 8 Jairo Martínez Substitutions: MF – Francisco Pavón MF – Marlon Nolasco FW – Luis Oseguera Manager: Alejandro Domínguez
GK 1 Víctor Coello RB 23 Mauricio Sabillón CB 5 Darwin Pacheco CB 6 José Luis López LB 3 Behiker Bustillo RM – Walter López CM 20 Narciso Fernández CM 24 Luis Guifarro LM 7 Emil Martínez CF 10 Denilson Costa CF 17 Pompilio Cacho Substitutions: MF – Daniel Muñoz FW 9 José Pacini MF – Carlos Güity Manager: Flavio Ortega
GK 1 Víctor CoelloRB 23 Mauricio SabillónCB 5 Darwin PachecoCB 3 José Luis López LB 6 Behiker BustilloRM – Walter LópezCM 20 Narciso FernándezCM 24 Luis GuifarroLM – Carlos Güity CF 10 Denilson CostaCF 17 Pompilio CachoSubstitutions:MF – Ilich Arias DF 4 Lenín Suárez Manager: Flavio Ortega
GK – Henry EnamoradoRB – Samir GarcíaCB – Jorge LozanoCB – Elmer Montoya LB - Iván GuerreroRM – Víctor MenaCM – Robel BernárdezCM – Francisco PavónLM – Mauricio CastroCF – Luis OsegueraCF 8 Jairo Martínez Substitutions:MF 6 Pablo Bocco MF – Avidán Solís Manager: Alejandro Domínguez
Marathón won 4–1 on aggregate score.
Liga Nacional2002–03 Clausura ChampionMarathón4th title
Squads Honduras Salzburg Héctor "Tanqueta" Flores Luis "Bombero" Ramírez Carlos Escobar Juan "Montuca" Castro Luis Ramos Jimmy González Vinel Chamorro Marathón Carlos "Pupita" Güity Mauricio Sabillón Pompilio Cacho Emil Martínez Hugo Caballero Víctor Coello Narciso "Kalusha" Fernández Darwin Pacheco Mario Berríos Behiker Bustillo José Luis López Luis Santamaría Walter López Juan Manuel Zandoná Carlos Alberto Salinas Denilson Costa Luis Guifarro José Pacini Lenín Suárez Dennis Ferrera Óscar Vargas Leonardo Morales Ilich Arias David Cáceres Antonio Arita Motagua Elmer Montoya Júnior Izaguirre Mauricio Castro Pablo Bocco Noel Valladares Juan Raudales Samir García Jairo Martínez Luis "Tanque" Oseguera Avidán Solís Francisco Pavón Robel Bernárdez Víctor Mena Iván Guerrero Henry Enamorado Jorge "Tata" Lozano Olimpia Danilo Tosello Donaldo González Wilmer Velásquez Donis Escober Marcelo Ferreira Milton Palacios Suazo Wilson Palacios Hendry Thomas Maynor Suazo Maynor Figueroa Francis Reyes José Luis Pineda Jerry Palacios Óscar "Pescado" Bonilla Platense Francisco Ramírez Jorge Zapata Marvin Sánchez Elmer Zelaya Reynaldo Tilguath Ricardo James Ángel "Búfalo" Hill Clifford Laing José Anthony Torres Gustavo Scioscia Pablo Medina David Meléndez Rony Morales Jorge Espinoza Real España Nigel Zúniga Marlon José Peña Enrique Renau Jaime Rosales Rafael Betine Milton "Chocolate" Flores Júnior Morales Erick Vallecillo Luciano Emílio Sergio Mendoza Javier Martínez Pedro Santana Real Maya/Real Patepluma Rony Flores Cristino Bernárdez Universidad Jaime Ruíz Diego Vásquez Victoria Ricardo Gabriel "Gato" Canales John Bodden Carlos Lino Carlos Discua Ronald "Cuervo" Maradiaga Mario Chávez José García Luis Lagos Carlos "Tatín" Morán Pablo Bernárdez Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda Óscar Sorto Hesler Phillips Miguel "Gallo" Mariano Carlos "Calolo" Palacios Alex Roberto Bailey Máximo Arzú Wilmer Ramos Walter "Pery" Martínez Marvin Morán Marvin Chávez Samir George Ignacio Mejía Johnny Rivera Dionisio Bátiz Carlos Mena Marlon López Norlan García Vida Jonathan Bush Sanders Luis Perdomo Renán "Chimbo" Aguilera Jorge Ocampo Saynor Álvarez Víctor "Muma" Bernárdez
Top goalscorers 10 goals Luciano Emílio (Real España) Pompilio Cacho (C.D. Marathón) Denilson Costa (C.D. Marathón) 8 goals Wilmer Velásquez (Olimpia) 6 goals Pedro Santana (Real España) 6 goals Jairo Martínez (Motagua) José Pacini (Marathón) 5 goals Danilo Tosello (Olimpia) Luis Oseguera (Motagua) 4 goals Emil Martínez (Marathón) Francisco Ramírez (Platense) Marcelo Ferreira (Olimpia) Abidán Solís (Motagua) 3 goals Clifford Laing (Platense)
Relegation Relegation was determined by the aggregated table of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments. On 10 May 2003, C.D. Victoria were relegated to Liga de Ascenso, however they bought Honduras Salzburg's franchise and stayed in first division.
Controversies During the Apertura tournament, C.D. Marathón hosted Real C.D. España on week 9, the match was played on 28 September and ended with a 0–2 away win to Real España. During halftime, Real España delayed more than 15 minutes and returned late to play the second half. Marathón alleged and the Board of Discipline annulled the game. A rematch was played on 13 October ending in a 0–0 draw. Such decision affected the final standings which resulted in Marathón owning the third place and sent Real España to fourth.RadioHouse.hn–CASOS INSÓLITOS DEL FÚTBOL HONDUREÑO–13 October 2016
References