2018–19 Primera División de El Salvador

The 2018–19 Primera División de El Salvador (also known as the Liga Pepsi) is the 20th season and 39th and 40th Primera División tournament, El Salvador's top football division, since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Alianza F.C. are the defending champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments. The league will consist of 12 teams. There will be two seasons conducted under identical rules, with each team playing a home and away game against the other clubs for a total of 22 games per tournament. At the end of each half-season tournament, the top eight teams in that tournament's regular season standings will take part in the playoffs.

The champions of Apertura or Clausura with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF League. Should the same team win both tournaments, both runners-up will qualify for CONCACAF League. Should the final of both tournaments features the same 2 teams, the semifinalist with the better aggregate record will qualify for CONCACAF League.

Team information

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 11 sides from the 2017–18 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2017–18 Segunda División.

Dragon were relegated to 2018–19 Segunda División the previous season.

The relegated team was replaced by the 2017–18 Segunda División playoffs promotion winner. Jocoro F.C. won the Apertura 2017 and Clausura 2018 title, meaning there was no need for a promotion playoff and were promoted automatically.

Promotion and relegation

Promoted from Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2018.

• Champions: Jocoro F.C.

Relegated to Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2018.

• Last Place: Dragon

Personnel and sponsoring

Team	Chairman	Head Coach	Captain	Kitmaker	Shirt Sponsors
Águila	Jose Alexander Menjivar	Carlos Romero	Benji Villalobos	Maca	Mister Donut, Canal 4, Pollo Campesto, Pilsener
Alianza	Adolfo Salume	Jorge Rodríguez	TBD	Umbro	Canal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Veca airlines, Brahva
Audaz	Roberto Campos	Pablo Quiñonez	Carlos Monteagudo	Rush Atletics	Claro,
Chalatenango	Rigoberto Mejia	Alvaro Misael Alfaro	TBD	Nil	Lemus, Premiun Center, Arjona Import & Export Co
Jocoro F.C.	Leonel Hernández	Cristóbal Cubilla	Giuviny Esquivel	Milan	Haciendo Regalo de Dios, Caja de Credito Jocoro
FAS	Guillermo Moran	Erick Dowson Prado	Néstor Raúl Renderos	Joma	Pilsener, Tigo, Canal 4, Hospital Cader, Sol
Firpo	Modesto Torres	Asdrúbal Flores	Edwin Martinez	Galaxia	Pilsener, KTOR Sports, Lacteos Velatoro
Isidro Metapán	Rafael Morataya	Agustin Castillo	Milton Molina	Milan	Canal 4, Arroz de San Pedro, Agroamigo, Morataya
Limeño	Martín Herrera	William Renderos Iraheta	Francisco Jovel Álvarez	Nil	UNAB (Universidad Dr. Andres Berello), Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres, Innova sport
Pasaquina	Óscar Ramírez	Eraldo Correia	Isaac Zelaya	Nil	Canal 4, Innova sport
Sonsonate	Pedro Contreras	Nelson Ancheta	Christian Sánchez	Milan	ProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1
Santa Tecla	José Vidal Hernández	Christian Díaz	Gerson Mayen	Kelme	Powerade, DLC, Canal 21, Pilsener, Claro, Plaza Merliot, Pollo Indio, Petrox, Dizucar, Bolívar, Toledo, The Moustache

Notable events

Change of Ownership of Aguila

The Grupo Aguila Deportivo, SA de CV announced in June, 2018 that they were selling their operating rights for Aguila, on the 6th of July a new group under Adolfo Salume (Club Social Águila) had purchased Aguila from the Arieta group (Grupo Aguila Deportivo) for undisclosed fees.

Pasaquina and Audaz moving stadium

Pasaquina announced that due to their home stadium not meeting new CONCACAF standards and minimal crowd numbers, they would play their home games at La Union stadium. Audaz also announced that they would play some games away from Estadio Jiboa.

New ball sponsorship for the league

The league signed a new deal with Mexican company Voit to provide the balls used in the national league. [1]

Change of Ownership of Audaz

The Audaz Apasteque group announced in January, 2018 that they were selling their operating rights for Audaz, on the 6th of July a new group under Roberto Campos had purchased Audaz from the Juan Pablo Herrera group for undisclosed fees. [2]

Deduction of Points

Audaz attempted to play in unapproved jersey, despite on the spot modification being done, referee abandoned the game and FESFUT decided to award the match to a 2-0 forfeit win to Isidro Metapan.

On February 27, 2019 C.D. Municipal Limeno, Jocoro F.C. and C.D. Pasaquina were deducted six points due to failing to sign the right paperwork for their respective under 17 teams to compete in the tournament. [3]

Notable death from Apertura 2018 season and 2019 Clausura season

The following people associated with the Primera Division have died in end of 2018 and mid 2019.

Managerial changes

Before the start of the season

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Firpo	Giovanni Trigueros	Contract finished	May 2018	Jorge Calles	May 2018	7th & Quarterfinalist (Clausura 2018)
Santa Tecla	Ruben da Silva	Mutual consent	May 2018	Christian Díaz	June 2018	2nd & runners-up (Clausura 2018)
Sonsonate	Juan Ramón Sánchez	contract not renewed	June 2018	Juan Ramon Paredes	June 2018	8th (Quarterfinal)
Jocoro	Emiliano Barrera	Resigned	June 2018	Nelson Ancheta	June 2018	Newly Promoted (N/A)
Pasaquina	Francisco Robles	Contract not renewed	June 2018	Eraldo Correia	June 2018	8th (Quarterfinal)
Chalatenango	Geovanni Portillo	Interim finished	April 2018	Ángel Piazzi	June 2018	10th (Clausura 2018)
FAS	Cristian Álvarez	Moved to become Under 17 coach	June 2018	Álvaro de Jesús Gómez	June 2018	4th & Quarterfinalist (Clausura 2018)
Aguila	Miguel Obando	Contract finished	June 2018	Carlos Romero	July 2018	3rd & Semifinalist (Clausura 2018)
Audaz	Carlos Romero	Resigned	June 2018	German Perez	July 2018	6th & Semifinalist (Clausura 2018)

During the Apertura season

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Sonsonate	Juan Ramon Paredes	Contract not approved by federation, therefore could not coach the club	August 2018	Mario Elias Guevara	August 2018	12th (Apertura 2018)
Audaz	German Perez	Sacked, move to become the assistant manager	September 2018	William Renderos Iraheta	September 2018	11th (Apertura 2018)
Sonsonate	Mario Elias Guevara	Sacked	September 2018	Hugo Olevar	September 2018	9th (Apertura 2018)
FAS	Álvaro de Jesús Gómez	Resigned due to family reasons	September 2018	Erick Dowson Prado (Interim)	September 2018	5th (Apertura 2018)
Chalatenango	Ángel Piazzi	Resigned	October 2018	Geovani Portillo (interim)	October 2018	9th (Apertura 2018)
Firpo	Jorge Calles	Resigned	October 2018	Asdrúbal Flores	October 2018	12th (Apertura 2018)
Chalatenango	Geovani Portillo (Interim)	Interimship finished	October 2018	Alvaro Misael Alfaro	October 2018	8th (Apertura 2018)
Limeno	Victor Coreas	Sacked	October 2018	Omar Sevilla	October 2018	9th (Apertura 2018)

Between Apertura and Clausura seasons

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Jocoro	Nelson Ancheta	Resigned	December 2018	Cristóbal Cubilla	December 2018	10th (Apertura 2018)
Sonsonate	Hugo Olevar	Contract finished	December 2018	Nelson Ancheta	December 2018	11th (Apertura 2018)
Isidro Metapan	Agustin Castillo	Sacked	December 2018	Edwin Portillo	December 2018	5th (Apertura 2018)
Limeno	Omar Sevilla	Sacked	December 2018	William Renderos Iraheta	December 2018	7th (Apertura 2018)
Audaz	William Renderos Iraheta	Resigned	December 2018	Pablo Quiñonez	January 2019	6th (Apertura 2018)

During the Clausura season

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Firpo	Asdrúbal Flores	Sacked	February 2019	Carlos Alberto de Toro	February 2019	10th (Clausura 2019)
Sonsonate	Nelson Ancheta	Sacked	February 2019	Omar Pimentel (Interim)	February 2019	10th (Clausura 2019)
Pasaquina	Eraldo Correia	Resigned, due to lack of payments	February 2019	Jose Manuel Romero	February 2019	6th (Clausura 2019)
Jocoro	Cristóbal Cubilla	Mutual Agreement	February 2019	Guillermo Rivera	February 2019	9th (Clausura 2019)
Sonsonate	Omar Pimentel	Interimship ended	March 2019	Rubén da Silva	March 2019	11th (Clausura 2019)
Santa Tecla	Christian Díaz	Resigned	April 2019	Rodolfo Gochez (Interim)	April 2019	6th (Clausura 2019)
Santa Tecla	Rodolfo Gochez	Caretaker role finished	April 2019	Sebastian Abreu	April 2019	6th (Clausura 2019)

Apertura

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza	22	14	7	1	44	16	+28	49	Advance to Playoffs
2	Santa Tecla	22	12	7	3	33	18	+15	43
3	Águila	22	11	4	7	39	24	+15	37
4	FAS	22	9	6	7	23	17	+6	33
5	Isidro Metapán	22	8	7	7	26	25	+1	31
6	Audaz	22	8	7	7	23	26	−3	31
7	Municipal Limeño	22	5	11	6	28	32	−4	26
8	Chalatenango	22	7	5	10	24	30	−6	26
9	Pasaquina	22	6	7	9	26	31	−5	25
10	Jocoro	22	4	11	7	25	28	−3	23
11	Sonsonate	22	3	9	10	16	31	−15	18
12	Firpo	22	3	3	16	17	46	−29	12

Results

Records

• Best home records: Santa Tecla F.C. and Alianza F.C. (27 points out of 33 points)
• Worst home records: C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (6 points out of 33 points)
• best away records : Alianza F.C. (22 points out of 33 points)
• worst away records : C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (6 points out of 33 points)
• Most goals scored: Alianza F.C. (44 goals)
• Fewest goals scored: C.D. Sonsonate (16 goals)
• Fewest goals conceded : Alianza F.C. (16 goals)
• Most goals conceded : C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (46 goals)

Top goalscorers

As of 25 November 2018^[1]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Rodolfo Zelaya	Alianza	14
2	Waldemar Acosta	Águila	12
2	Ramiro Iván Rocca	Chalatenango	11
4	Clayvin Zúniga	Municipal Limeño	10
5	Jeison Quiñones	Pasaquina	8
	Ricardinho	Santa Tecla
	Zé Paulo	Isidro Metapán
8	Bladimir Díaz	Alianza	7
9	Nelson Alvarenga	Jocoro	6
	Édgar Cruz	Jocoro
	Santos Guzmán	Audaz
	Wilma Torres	Santa Tecla
	Joaquín Vergés	Águila

Scoring

^[2]

• First goal of the season: Ronald Rodríguez for Aguila against Sonsonate, 9 minutes (July 28, 2018)
• First goal by a foreign player: Joaquín Vergés for Aguila against Sonsonate, 36 minutes (July 28, 2018)
• Fastest goal in a match: 2 minutes
  • Bladimir Diaz for Alianza against Chalatenango (September 17, 2018)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90 minutes
  • Juan Barahona goal for Santa Tecla against Audaz (28 July 2018)
• First penalty Kick of the season: Ricardinho for Santa Tecla against Audaz, 35 minutes (July 28, 2018)
• Widest winning margin: 5 goals
  • Alianza 5–0 Luis Ángel Firpo (2018)
• First hat-trick of the season: Christopher Ramirez for Luis Ángel Firpo against Isidro Metapán (August 18, 2018)
• First own goal of the season: TBA (TBD) for TBD (February 19, 2018)
• Most goals in a match: 7 goals
  • Luis Ángel Firpo 3-4 Isidro Metapán (August 18, 2018)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 5 goals
  • Alianza 5–0 Luis Ángel Firpo (2018)
• Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
  • FAS 4-0 (4–0) Luis Ángel Firpo (2nd half, August, 2018)
• Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals
  • Jocoro 3–4 Municipal Limeño (September 15, 2018)
• Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
  • Christopher Ramirez for Luis Ángel Firpo against Isidro Metapán (August 18, 2018)
  • Ulises Tavares for Sonsonate against Audaz (September, 2018)
  • Clayvin Zúniga for Limeno against Jocoro (September 15, 2018)
  • Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against Aguila (September, 2018)

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Isidro Metapán	0–2	FAS	0–0	2–0
Audaz	3–4	Águila	2–2	2–1
Limeño	2–3	Santa Tecla	0–1	2–2
Chalatenango	0–7	Alianza	0–0	7–0

First leg

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Second leg

Aguila won 4-3 on aggregate.

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Santa Tecla won 3-2 on aggregate.

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FAS won 2-0 on aggregate.

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Alianza won 7-0 on aggregate.

Semifinals

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Aguila	2-5	Santa Tecla	2-3	2-0
FAS	2-2 (s)	Alianza	0-0	2-2

First leg

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Second leg

Santa Tecla won 5-2 on aggregate.

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2-2. Alianza advanced as the higher seeded team.

Final

Apertura 2018 champions
Santa Tecla 4th title

Clausura

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza	22	15	4	3	49	16	+33	49	Advance to Playoffs
2	Águila	22	11	8	3	27	14	+13	41
3	Isidro Metapán	22	9	7	6	30	23	+7	34
4	Municipal Limeño	22	10	8	4	23	17	+6	32[a]
5	Chalatenango	22	8	7	7	19	22	−3	31
6	Santa Tecla	22	7	9	6	29	30	−1	30
7	FAS	22	7	8	7	21	19	+2	29
8	Pasaquina	22	6	8	8	23	31	−8	20[b]
9	Audaz	22	5	4	13	20	31	−11	19
10	Firpo	22	4	7	11	16	31	−15	19
11	Sonsonate	22	4	6	12	26	39	−13	18
12	Jocoro	22	4	8	10	16	26	−10	14[c]

Results

Records

• Best home records: Alianza F.C. (30 points out of 33 points)
• Worst home records: Jocoro F.C. (5 points out of 33 points)
• Best away records : Alianza F.C. (19 points out of 33 points)
• Worst away records : C.D. Sonsonate (6 points out of 33 points)
• Most goals scored: Alianza F.C. (49 goals)
• Fewest goals scored: Jocoro F.C. and C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (16 goals)
• Fewest goals conceded : C.D. Aguila (14 goals)
• Most goals conceded : C.D. Sonsonate (39 goals)

Top goalscorers

As of 6 May 2019^[4]

No.	Player	Club	Goals
1	Bladimir Diaz	Alianza	16
2	Armando Polo	Sonsonate	13
3	Jeison Quinonez	Pasaquina	13
4	Ricardinho	Isidro Metapan	8
5	Dustin Corea	FAS	7
6	Ricardo Guevara	Aguila	7
7	Juan Carlos Portillo	Alianza	7
8	James Cabeszas	Municipal Limeno	6
9	Oscar Ceren	Alianza	6
10	David Rugamas	FAS	6

Scoring

• First goal of the season: Joaquin Verges for Aguila against Jocoro, 4 minutes (13 January 2019)
• First goal by a foreign player: Joaquin Verges for Aguila against Jocoro, 4 minutes (13 January 2019)
• Fastest goal in a match: 2 minutes
  • Ivan Mancia for Alianza against Metapan (24 February 2019)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+2 minutes
  • Juan Jose Hernandez goal for Jocoro against Santa Tecla (January 24, 2019)
• First penalty Kick of the season: Joaquin Verges for Aguila against Jocoro, 4 minutes (13 January 2019)
• Widest winning margin: 5 goals
  • Alianza 5–0 Firpo (February, 2019)
• First hat-trick of the season: Bladimir Diaz for Alianza against Limeno (January 20, 2019)
• First own goal of the season: TBA (TBD) for TBD (February 19, 2018)
• Most goals in a match: 8 goals
  • Alianza 6-2 Audaz (April 8, 2019)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 6 goals
  • Alianza 6-2 Audaz (April 8, 2019)
• Most goals in one half by one team: 3 goals
  • Metapan 3-1 (3-3) Pasaquina (2nd half, January 24, 2019)
    Alianza 3-0 (4-0) Limeno (2nd half, January 20, 2019)
• Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals
  • FAS 3–4 Sonsonate (2019)
• Most goals by one player in a single match: 4 goals
  • Dustin Corea for FAS against Firpo (March 16, 2019)
• Players that scored a hat-trick':
  • Bladimir Diaz for Alianza against Limeno (January 20, 2019)
  • Dustin Corea for FAS against Firpo (March 16, 2019)
  • Bladimir Diaz for Alianza against Audaz (April 8, 2019)
  • Ricardo Guevara for Aguila against Sonsonate (April 13, 2019)

Playoffs

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Alianza	3	2	5
	8	Pasaquina	0	0	0
								Alianza		2	0	2
								Municipal Limeño		2	0	2
	4	Municipal Limeño	1	0	1
	5	Chalatenango	0	1	1
															Alianza		0 (1)
															Águila		0 (3)
	2	Águila	2	2	4
	7	FAS	3	1	4
								Águila		2	2	4
								Isidro Metapán		0	0	0
	3	Isidro Metapán	1	2	3
	6	Santa Tecla	0	1	1

Quarterfinals

First leg

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Second leg

4-4, Aguila won as highest seeded team.

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Isidro Metapan won 3-2 on aggregate.

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1-1, Limeno won as highest seeded team.

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Alianza won 5-0 on aggregate.

Semifinals

First leg

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Second leg

Aguila won 4-0 on aggregate.

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2-2, Alianza won as highest seeded team.

Final

Clausura 2019 champions
C.D. Aguila 16th title

Aggregate table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza (Q)	44	29	11	4	93	32	+61	98	CONCACAF League preliminary round[a]
2	Águila (Q)	44	22	12	10	66	38	+28	78	CONCACAF League round of 16[b]
3	Santa Tecla (Q)	44	19	16	9	62	48	+14	73	CONCACAF League preliminary round[c]
4	Isidro Metapán	44	17	14	13	56	48	+8	65
5	FAS	44	16	14	14	44	36	+8	62
6	Municipal Limeño	44	15	19	10	51	49	+2	59[d]
7	Chalatenango	44	15	12	17	43	52	−9	57
8	Audaz	44	13	11	20	43	57	−14	50
9	Pasaquina	44	12	15	17	49	62	−13	45[e]
10	Jocoro	44	8	19	17	41	54	−13	37[f]
11	Sonsonate	44	7	15	22	42	70	−28	36
12	Firpo (R)	44	7	10	27	33	77	−44	31	Relegated to Segunda División

List of foreign players in the league

This is a list of foreign players in the 2018–19 season. The following players:

1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
2. Have not been capped for the El Salvador national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace

A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player is released and it is before the close of the season transfer window. [18]

(player released during the Apertura season)

(player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons)

(player released during the Clausura season)

References