Coach Diego Vásquez will be leading the team for his 10th consecutive tournament. Last season, Vásquez reached 200 consecutive games as Motagua's manager, a club's and league record. The club started the season on 22 July with a shocking 1–2 defeat against Las Delicias F.C. in the 2018 Honduran Cup, making this the second time in a row they fall through the first round against a Liga Mayor club at such tournament.[2] On 1 November 2018, the club lost 2–3 on aggregate against C.S. Herediano in the final series of the 2018 CONCACAF League.[3] This marked the first time in history that the club qualified to a final in a tournament organized by CONCACAF. With the defeat, Motagua failed to qualify to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. Thanks to their outstanding participation in the first half of the season, coach Vásquez, as well as players Jonathan Rougier, Juan Montes and Rubilio Castillo were nominated at the 2018 CONCACAF Awards.[4] On 16 December 2018, the club conquered their 16th national title with a 2–1 aggregate score over their city rivals Club Deportivo Olimpia in the Apertura final series,[5] a win which gave them the right to qualify to the 2019 CONCACAF League. For their second year in a row, the club was voted as the best Honduran team according to Uruguayan newspaper El País.[6] In the Clausura tournament, Motagua repeated and once again lifted the trophy with a 3–2 win on aggregate over their city opponents Olimpia in the final series.[7]
Kits
The 2018–19 home, away and third kits were published on 24 June. On 5 December, the club released a special retro edition commemorating the 90th anniversary.[8]
This is a list of players that were playing for Motagua during the 2018–19 season and were called to represent Honduras at different international competitions.
Note: This was the first ever encounter between these two clubs and the first F.C. Motagua's visit to the city of Miami since January 2010. The 'Copa Comunidad de Honduras' was the name of the trophy which served as an incentive.
Note: Forward Rubilio Castillo reached his 100th goal in the league becoming the fourth all-time goal scorer. He also scored his 77th goal for F.C. Motagua and is along with Ángel Obando, the club's all-time goal scorer.
Note: With a late header, Rubilio Castillo scored his 101st Liga Nacional goal and is now the league's third all-time goalscorer, just behind Wilmer Velásquez and Denilson Costa; furthermore, with 78 goals for F.C. Motagua, he became the club's single top scorer. The match was temporary suspended at '85 due to a power outage.
Note: This was F.C. Motagua's first visit to this venue since March 2011 (0–1 win over C.D. Necaxa). Forward Rubilio Castillo was injured early in the game. It was the club's first draw of the season.
Note: The match was pushed one day later to allow F.C. Motagua 72 hours of rest after their compromise at the 2018 CONCACAF League's semifinals. Rubilio Castillo scored his 12th goal against Real C.D. España and became the all-time top goalscorer against this club. With the tie, the club improved to second position.
Note: This match was postponed 10 days due to bad weather and ironically the game was finally played in even worst conditions. Javier Estupiñán scored the sole goal to help F.C. Motagua reach the top of the standings.
Note: As F.C. Motagua had a 2018 CONCACAF League match on Thursday, this game was pushed one day later to allow the team 72 hours of rest. Coach Diego Vásquez sent an alternative squad considering their forthcoming match against C.S. Herediano.
Note: After their recent elimination at the 2018 CONCACAF League, the club obtained a win which secured them a direct pass to the semifinals. Defender Sergio Peña scored his first goal for the team.
Note: This is the third time F.C. Motagua and Platense F.C. meet in a semifinal series. In the previous two (1998 and 2010), Motagua advanced. Forward Kevin López scored the winning goal and reached his 100th appearance with the club. Also, the club obtained its sixth consecutive victory for the first time since April 2015.
Note: With a 2–1 aggregate score, F.C. Motagua obtained their 16th national title. With the win, the club qualified to international competitions for the 2019–20 season.
Note: Forward Marcelo Estigarribia made his official debut with the club scoring a goal. With the draw, F.C. Motagua couldn't simulate their best ever season start of four straight wins in 1973–74.
Note: For the first time in more than two decades, this derby was nationwide blackout due to the rights being sold to private cable provider Tigo Sport.
Note: This game was played behind closed doors due to a three match suspension to Estadio Nilmo Edwards. Midfielder Jonathan Núñez made his official debut for the club at the age of 16.
Note: It was the first time the Honduran Superclásico was officiated by a female referee. This match became the 100th draw in the history between these two clubs in Liga Nacional. Goalkeeper Jonathan Rougier saved a penalty kick in the first half.
Note: It was the 8th time in league's history that these two teams meet in a double header elimination, having F.C. Motagua won 6 of the previous 7. Jonathan Rougier completed his 14th clean-sheet of the season.
Note: Forward Roberto Moreira scored his second hat-trick of the tournament. F.C. Motagua qualified to their 10th straight semifinal and to their 28th overall.
Note: It was the 4th time these two teams face in a semifinal round, having F.C. Motagua won 1 of the previous 3. Matías Galvaliz scored his second goal for the club and his first one since November 2018. Goalkeeper Jonathan Rougier obtained his third straight clean-sheet.
Note: Las Delicias F.C. plays in the Honduran Liga Mayor. It was the first ever encounter between these two teams and the first F.C. Motagua's visit at this venue. Motagua failed to advance from the first round in this tournament for the second year in a row.
Note: F.C. Motagua made their debut at this newly competition. It was their second official pairing against a Belizean club and their first one against Belmopan Bandits in particular.
Note: With a 3–2 aggregate score, F.C. Motagua advanced to their first ever final in a tournament organized by CONCACAF. During the second half, the game was involved with controversy after referee Walter López sent off Héctor Castellanos with a double yellow card, however, he reconsider his decision after he realized the foul was made by Erick Andino.
Note: With a 2–3 aggregate score, F.C. Motagua failed to obtain the trophy and lost the opportunity to advance to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. Forward Rubilio Castillo finished as the tournament's top goalscorer with five goals.
By round
Round
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Ground
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
H
Result
W
L
W
W
L
W
D
W
D
L
W
D
W
D
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
D
D
L
L
W
W
W
L
L
W
D
L
W
W
D
Position
3
6
3
2
2
2
4
2
2
5
3
2
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Source: [citation needed] A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed
