2002–03 Honduran Liga Nacional

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.

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

Final round

Semifinals

Platense vs Real España

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• Platense won 2–1 on aggregate score.

Olimpia vs Marathón

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• Olimpia won 2–1 on aggregate score.

Final

Platense vs Olimpia

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File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Platense Template:Preview warning

File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Olimpia Template:Preview warning

GK	–	Template:Flagicon Ricardo James
RB	–	Template:Flagicon Elder Valladares
CB	4	Template:Flagicon José Anthony Torres
LB	3	Template:Flagicon Ángel Hill
RM	10	Template:Flagicon Edgar Álvarez
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Walter Hernández
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Alex Andino		downward-facing red arrow
LM	–	Template:Flagicon Reynaldo Tilguath
RW	–	Template:Flagicon Clifford Laing		downward-facing red arrow
CF	9	Template:Flagicon Marcelo Ferreira		downward-facing red arrow
LW	–	Template:Flagicon Pablo Medina
Substitutions:
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Elmer Blanco		upward-facing green arrow
DF	–	Template:Flagicon Derrick Hulse		upward-facing green arrow
FW	–	Template:Flagicon Francisco Ramírez		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Alberto Romero

GK	–	Template:Flagicon Donaldo González
RB	–	Template:Flagicon Wilson Palacios
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Fabio Ulloa
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Milton Palacios
LB	–	Template:Flagicon Edwin Ávila
CM	25	Template:Flagicon Óscar Bonilla
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Maynor Suazo
AM	18	Template:Flagicon Danilo Tosello
RF	–	Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa
CF	9	Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Cárcamo		downward-facing red arrow
LF	11	Template:Flagicon Wilmer Velásquez		downward-facing red arrow
Substitutions:
FW	–	Template:Flagicon Eduardo Bennett		upward-facing green arrow
MF	15	Template:Flagicon Francis Reyes		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Espinoza

• Olimpia won 3–2 on aggregate.

Liga Nacional 2002–03 Apertura Champion
Olimpia 16th title

Squads

Honduras Salzburg
Template:Flagicon Héctor "Tanqueta" Flores	Template:Flagicon Luis "Bombero" Ramírez	Template:Flagicon Carlos Escobar
Template:Flagicon Juan "Montuca" Castro	Template:Flagicon Luis Ramos	Template:Flagicon Jimmy González
Template:Flagicon Vinel Chamorro
Marathón
Template:Flagicon Carlos "Pupita" Güity	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Sabillón	Template:Flagicon Pompilio Cacho
Template:Flagicon Emil Martínez	Template:Flagicon Juan Pablo Centeno	Template:Flagicon Víctor Coello
Template:Flagicon Narciso "Kalusha" Fernández	Template:Flagicon Darwin Pacheco	Template:Flagicon Mario Berríos
Template:Flagicon Behiker Bustillo	Template:Flagicon Rubén Suazo	Template:Flagicon Luis Santamaría
Template:Flagicon Walter López	Template:Flagicon Anael Figueroa	Template:Flagicon Carlos Alberto Salinas
Template:Flagicon Elvis Scott	Template:Flagicon Luis Guifarro	Template:Flagicon Leonardo Morales
Template:Flagicon Mario López	Template:Flagicon Dennis Ferrera	Template:Flagicon Óscar Vargas
Template:Flagicon Jean Carles Rosario	Template:Flagicon Lenín Suárez	Template:Flagicon Orvin "Pato" Cabrera
Template:Flagicon David Cárcamo	Template:Flagicon Alfredo Cristino Jara	Template:Flagicon Lisandro Silva
Template:Flagicon Silvian López	Template:Flagicon David Cáceres	Template:Flagicon Ilich Arias
Motagua
Template:Flagicon Elmer Montoya	Template:Flagicon Júnior Izaguirre	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Castro
Template:Flagicon José Pacini	Template:Flagicon Noel Valladares	Template:Flagicon Carlos Oliva
Template:Flagicon Henry Enamorado	Template:Flagicon Nery Medina	Template:Flagicon Víctor Mena
Olimpia
Template:Flagicon Danilo Tosello	Template:Flagicon Donaldo González	Template:Flagicon Wilmer Velásquez
Template:Flagicon Donis Escober	Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa	Template:Flagicon Milton Palacios Suazo
Template:Flagicon Wilson Palacios	Template:Flagicon Hendry Thomas	Template:Flagicon Maynor Suazo
Template:Flagicon Hugo Caballero	Template:Flagicon Francis Reyes	Template:Flagicon José Luis Pineda
Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Cárcamo	Template:Flagicon Eduardo Bennett	Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Raudales
Template:Flagicon Óscar "Pescado" Bonilla	Template:Flagicon Edwin Yobani Ávila	Template:Flagicon Fabio Ulloa
Platense
Template:Flagicon Marcelo Ferreira	Template:Flagicon Jorge Zapata	Template:Flagicon Marvin Sánchez
Template:Flagicon Elmer Zelaya	Template:Flagicon Reynaldo Tilguath	Template:Flagicon Ricardo James
Template:Flagicon Edgar Álvarez	Template:Flagicon Clifford Laing	Template:Flagicon José Anthony Torres
Template:Flagicon Gustavo Scioscia	Template:Flagicon Pablo Medina	Template:Flagicon David Meléndez
Template:Flagicon Jorge Espinoza	Template:Flagicon Rony Morales	Template:Flagicon Ángel "Búfalo" Hill
Template:Flagicon Walter Hernández	Template:Flagicon Alex Andino	Template:Flagicon Elder Valladares
Template:Flagicon Derrick Hulse	Template:Flagicon Francisco Ramírez	Template:Flagicon Elmer Blanco
Real España
Template:Flagicon Nigel Zúniga	Template:Flagicon Marlon José Peña	Template:Flagicon Enrique Renau
Template:Flagicon Jaime Rosales	Template:Flagicon Rafael Betine	Template:Flagicon Milton "Chocolate" Flores
Template:Flagicon Júnior Morales	Template:Flagicon Erick Vallecillo	Template:Flagicon Sergio Mendoza
Template:Flagicon Luciano Emílio
Real Maya/Real Patepluma
Template:Flagicon Rony Flores	Template:Flagicon Cristino Bernárdez
Universidad
Template:Flagicon Jaime Ruíz
Victoria
Template:Flagicon Ricardo Gabriel "Gato" Canales	Template:Flagicon John Bodden	Template:Flagicon Carlos Lino
Template:Flagicon Carlos Discua	Template:Flagicon Ronald "Cuervo" Maradiaga	Template:Flagicon Mario Chávez
Template:Flagicon José García	Template:Flagicon Luis Lagos	Template:Flagicon Carlos "Tatín" Morán
Template:Flagicon Pablo Bernárdez	Template:Flagicon Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda	Template:Flagicon Óscar Sorto
Template:Flagicon Hesler Phillips	Template:Flagicon Miguel "Gallo" Mariano	Template:Flagicon Carlos "Calolo" Palacios
Template:Flagicon Alex Roberto Bailey	Template:Flagicon Máximo Arzú	Template:Flagicon Wilmer Ramos
Vida
Template:Flagicon Jonathan Bush Sanders	Template:Flagicon Luis Perdomo	Template:Flagicon Renán "Chimbo" Aguilera
Template:Flagicon Jorge Ocampo

Jose Gonzales

Top goalscorers

15 goals

• Template:Flagicon Marcelo Ferreira (Platense)

11 goals

• Template:Flagicon Luciano Emílio (Real España)

6 goals

• Template:Flagicon 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

Final round

Semifinals

Olimpia vs Motagua

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• Motagua won 4–2 on aggregate score.

Marathón vs Real España

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• Marathón 2–2 Real España on aggregate score; Marathón advanced on better Regular season performance.

Final

Marathón vs Motagua

{{football box collapsible | round = 1st leg | date = 25 May 2003 | time = 16:00 (UTC−06:00) | team1 = Motagua | score = 1–1 | report = | team2 = Marathón | goals1 = Lozano File:Soccerball shade.svg 79' | goals2 = Martínez File:Soccerball shade.svg 65' | location = Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán | stadium = Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino | attendance = 21,691 | referee = Óscar Bardales | result = | nobars =

File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Motagua

File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Marathón Template:Preview warning

GK	–	Template:Flagicon Henry Enamorado
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Víctor Bernárdez
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Jorge Lozano
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Elmer Montoya		downward-facing red arrow
RWB	–	Template:Flagicon Samir García		downward-facing red arrow
LWB	–	Template:Flagicon Iván Guerrero
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Faussy Rodríguez		downward-facing red arrow
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Víctor Mena
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Castro
SS	6	Template:Flagicon Pablo Bocco
CF	8	Template:Flagicon Jairo Martínez
Substitutions:
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Francisco Pavón		upward-facing green arrow
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Marlon Nolasco		upward-facing green arrow
FW	–	Template:Flagicon Luis Oseguera		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Alejandro Domínguez

GK	1	Template:Flagicon Víctor Coello
RB	23	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Sabillón
CB	5	Template:Flagicon Darwin Pacheco
CB	6	Template:Flagicon José Luis López
LB	3	Template:Flagicon Behiker Bustillo
RM	–	Template:Flagicon Walter López
CM	20	Template:Flagicon Narciso Fernández
CM	24	Template:Flagicon Luis Guifarro		downward-facing red arrow
LM	7	Template:Flagicon Emil Martínez		Template:Sentoff
CF	10	Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa		downward-facing red arrow
CF	17	Template:Flagicon Pompilio Cacho		downward-facing red arrow
Substitutions:
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Daniel Muñoz		upward-facing green arrow
FW	9	Template:Flagicon José Pacini		upward-facing green arrow
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Carlos Güity		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Flavio Ortega

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File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Marathón Template:Preview warning

File:Kit left arm.svg File:Kit body.svg File:Kit right arm.svg File:Kit shorts.svg File:Kit socks long.svg Motagua

GK	1	Template:Flagicon Víctor Coello
RB	23	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Sabillón
CB	5	Template:Flagicon Darwin Pacheco
CB	3	Template:Flagicon José Luis López		downward-facing red arrow
LB	6	Template:Flagicon Behiker Bustillo
RM	–	Template:Flagicon Walter López
CM	20	Template:Flagicon Narciso Fernández
CM	24	Template:Flagicon Luis Guifarro
LM	–	Template:Flagicon Carlos Güity		downward-facing red arrow
CF	10	Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa
CF	17	Template:Flagicon Pompilio Cacho
Substitutions:
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Ilich Arias		upward-facing green arrow
DF	4	Template:Flagicon Lenín Suárez		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Flavio Ortega

GK	–	Template:Flagicon Henry Enamorado
RB	–	Template:Flagicon Samir García
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Jorge Lozano
CB	–	Template:Flagicon Elmer Montoya		downward-facing red arrow
LB	-	Template:Flagicon Iván Guerrero
RM	–	Template:Flagicon Víctor Mena
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Robel Bernárdez
CM	–	Template:Flagicon Francisco Pavón
LM	–	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Castro
CF	–	Template:Flagicon Luis Oseguera
CF	8	Template:Flagicon Jairo Martínez		downward-facing red arrow
Substitutions:
MF	6	Template:Flagicon Pablo Bocco		upward-facing green arrow
MF	–	Template:Flagicon Avidán Solís		upward-facing green arrow
Manager:
Template:Flagicon Alejandro Domínguez

• Marathón won 4–1 on aggregate score.

Liga Nacional 2002–03 Clausura Champion
Marathón 4th title

Squads

Honduras Salzburg
Template:Flagicon Héctor "Tanqueta" Flores	Template:Flagicon Luis "Bombero" Ramírez	Template:Flagicon Carlos Escobar
Template:Flagicon Juan "Montuca" Castro	Template:Flagicon Luis Ramos	Template:Flagicon Jimmy González
Template:Flagicon Vinel Chamorro
Marathón
Template:Flagicon Carlos "Pupita" Güity	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Sabillón	Template:Flagicon Pompilio Cacho
Template:Flagicon Emil Martínez	Template:Flagicon Hugo Caballero	Template:Flagicon Víctor Coello
Template:Flagicon Narciso "Kalusha" Fernández	Template:Flagicon Darwin Pacheco	Template:Flagicon Mario Berríos
Template:Flagicon Behiker Bustillo	Template:Flagicon José Luis López	Template:Flagicon Luis Santamaría
Template:Flagicon Walter López	Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Zandoná	Template:Flagicon Carlos Alberto Salinas
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa	Template:Flagicon Luis Guifarro	Template:Flagicon José Pacini
Template:Flagicon Lenín Suárez	Template:Flagicon Dennis Ferrera	Template:Flagicon Óscar Vargas
Template:Flagicon Leonardo Morales	Template:Flagicon Ilich Arias	Template:Flagicon David Cáceres
Template:Flagicon Antonio Arita
Motagua
Template:Flagicon Elmer Montoya	Template:Flagicon Júnior Izaguirre	Template:Flagicon Mauricio Castro
Template:Flagicon Pablo Bocco	Template:Flagicon Noel Valladares	Template:Flagicon Juan Raudales
Template:Flagicon Samir García	Template:Flagicon Jairo Martínez	Template:Flagicon Luis "Tanque" Oseguera
Template:Flagicon Avidán Solís	Template:Flagicon Francisco Pavón	Template:Flagicon Robel Bernárdez
Template:Flagicon Víctor Mena	Template:Flagicon Iván Guerrero	Template:Flagicon Henry Enamorado
Template:Flagicon Jorge "Tata" Lozano
Olimpia
Template:Flagicon Danilo Tosello	Template:Flagicon Donaldo González	Template:Flagicon Wilmer Velásquez
Template:Flagicon Donis Escober	Template:Flagicon Marcelo Ferreira	Template:Flagicon Milton Palacios Suazo
Template:Flagicon Wilson Palacios	Template:Flagicon Hendry Thomas	Template:Flagicon Maynor Suazo
Template:Flagicon Maynor Figueroa	Template:Flagicon Francis Reyes	Template:Flagicon José Luis Pineda
Template:Flagicon Jerry Palacios	Template:Flagicon Óscar "Pescado" Bonilla
Platense
Template:Flagicon Francisco Ramírez	Template:Flagicon Jorge Zapata	Template:Flagicon Marvin Sánchez
Template:Flagicon Elmer Zelaya	Template:Flagicon Reynaldo Tilguath	Template:Flagicon Ricardo James
Template:Flagicon Ángel "Búfalo" Hill	Template:Flagicon Clifford Laing	Template:Flagicon José Anthony Torres
Template:Flagicon Gustavo Scioscia	Template:Flagicon Pablo Medina	Template:Flagicon David Meléndez
Template:Flagicon Rony Morales	Template:Flagicon Jorge Espinoza
Real España
Template:Flagicon Nigel Zúniga	Template:Flagicon Marlon José Peña	Template:Flagicon Enrique Renau
Template:Flagicon Jaime Rosales	Template:Flagicon Rafael Betine	Template:Flagicon Milton "Chocolate" Flores
Template:Flagicon Júnior Morales	Template:Flagicon Erick Vallecillo	Template:Flagicon Luciano Emílio
Template:Flagicon Sergio Mendoza	Template:Flagicon Javier Martínez	Template:Flagicon Pedro Santana
Real Maya/Real Patepluma
Template:Flagicon Rony Flores	Template:Flagicon Cristino Bernárdez
Universidad
Template:Flagicon Jaime Ruíz	Template:Flagicon Diego Vásquez
Victoria
Template:Flagicon Ricardo Gabriel "Gato" Canales	Template:Flagicon John Bodden	Template:Flagicon Carlos Lino
Template:Flagicon Carlos Discua	Template:Flagicon Ronald "Cuervo" Maradiaga	Template:Flagicon Mario Chávez
Template:Flagicon José García	Template:Flagicon Luis Lagos	Template:Flagicon Carlos "Tatín" Morán
Template:Flagicon Pablo Bernárdez	Template:Flagicon Reynaldo "Chino" Pineda	Template:Flagicon Óscar Sorto
Template:Flagicon Hesler Phillips	Template:Flagicon Miguel "Gallo" Mariano	Template:Flagicon Carlos "Calolo" Palacios
Template:Flagicon Alex Roberto Bailey	Template:Flagicon Máximo Arzú	Template:Flagicon Wilmer Ramos
Template:Flagicon Walter "Pery" Martínez	Template:Flagicon Marvin Morán	Template:Flagicon Marvin Chávez
Template:Flagicon Samir George	Template:Flagicon Ignacio Mejía	Template:Flagicon Johnny Rivera
Template:Flagicon Dionisio Bátiz	Template:Flagicon Carlos Mena	Template:Flagicon Marlon López
Template:Flagicon Norlan García
Vida
Template:Flagicon Jonathan Bush Sanders	Template:Flagicon Luis Perdomo	Template:Flagicon Renán "Chimbo" Aguilera
Template:Flagicon Jorge Ocampo	Template:Flagicon Saynor Álvarez	Template:Flagicon Víctor "Muma" Bernárdez

Top goalscorers

10 goals

• Template:Flagicon Luciano Emílio (Real España)
• Template:Flagicon Pompilio Cacho (C.D. Marathón)
• Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Denilson Costa (C.D. Marathón)

8 goals

• Template:Flagicon Wilmer Velásquez (Olimpia)

6 goals

• Template:Flagicon Pedro Santana (Real España)

6 goals

• Template:Flagicon Jairo Martínez (Motagua)
• Template:Flagicon José Pacini (Marathón)

5 goals

• Template:Flagicon Danilo Tosello (Olimpia)
• Template:Flagicon Luis Oseguera (Motagua)

4 goals

• Template:Flagicon Emil Martínez (Marathón)
• Template:Flagicon Francisco Ramírez (Platense)
• Template:Flagicon Marcelo Ferreira (Olimpia)
• Template:Flagicon Abidán Solís (Motagua)

3 goals

• Template:Flagicon 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.