2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season

Primera División de Fútbol Profesional de El Salvador

Season	2017–18
Champions	Alianza F.C. (Apertura) Alianza F.C. (Clausura)
Relegated	Dragón
Champions League	Alianza F.C.
CONCACAF League	Santa Tecla F.C. C.D. FAS
Matches played	35
Goals scored	86 (2.46 per match)
Biggest home win	Isidro Metapán 3-0 Pasaquina (29 July 2017) Limeño 3-0 Dragón (20 August 2017) FAS 3-0 Limeño (31 August 2017)
Biggest away win	Firpo 2–5 Alianza (27 August 2017)
Highest scoring	Alianza 5–3 Isidro Metapán (20 August 2017)
← 2016–17 2018–19 → All statistics correct as of 20 August 2017.

The 2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season (also known as the Liga Pepsi) is the 19th season and 37th and 38th tournament of El Salvador's Primera División since its establishment of an Apertura and Clausura format. Santa Tecla F.C. the defending champions of the Apertura and Clausuray. 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 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. The other champion, and the runner-up with the better aggregate record will qualify for the 2018 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 two 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 2016–17 Primera División and 1 promoted from the 2016–17 Segunda División.

UES were relegated to 2017–18 Segunda División the previous season.

The relegated team was replaced by the 2016–17 Segunda División playoffs promotion winner. Independiente won the Apertura 2016, while Audaz won the Clausura 2017 title. C.D. Audaz won the playoffs by the score of 1-0.

C.D. Chalatenango were stripped of their license after suffering financial trouble (failing to primera division license, their players and staff).

A.D. Chalatenango were formed by business leaders and by the local government, they purchased the license and debts of CD Chalatenango [1].

Promotion and relegation[]

Promoted from Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2017.

• Champions: C.D. Audaz

Relegated to Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño as of June, 2017.

• Last Place: UES

Personnel and sponsoring[]

Team	Chairman	Head Coach	Captain	Kitmaker	Shirt sponsor
Águila	Pedro Arieta	Jorge Daniel Casanova	Deris Umanzor	Joma	Tigo, Canal 4, Pollo Campesto
Alianza	Adolfo Salume	Jorge Rodríguez	Rodolfo Zelaya	Lotto	Canal 4, Mister Donut, Tigo, Gatorade, Veca airlines, Brahva
Audaz	Juan Pablo Herrera		Levi Martinez	Maca	Canal 4, Vitasym, Acodjar de R.L.
Chalatenango	Rigoberto Mejia	Ricardo Serrano	Héctor Cruz	Nil	Canal 4, Eurofarm, Grupo de MC
Dragón	Abelio Diaz	Henry Vanegas	Manuel González	Rush Atletic Wear	Canal 4, GRS, Lemus
FAS	Guillermo Morán	Cristian Álvarez	Néstor Raúl Renderos	Milán	Pilsener, Tigo, Canal 4
Firpo	Modesto Torres	Ramón Sánchez	Jhonny Ríos	Kelme	Dial Fm, Pilsener, Tienors Galo, Lemus
Isidro Metapán	Rafael Morataya	Edwin Portillo	Milton Molina	Milan	Canal 4
Limeño	Martín Herrera	Hugo Ovelar	Francisco Jovel Álvarez	Nil	UNAB (Universidad Dr. Andres Berello), Chilos Seafood Restaurant, TuriTravel, Disturbidora Torres
Pasaquina	Óscar Ramírez	Omar Sevilla	Carlos Arévalo	Nil	Canal 4, Innova sport
Sonsonate	Pedro Contreras	Garabet Avedissian	Carlos Carrillo	Rush Atletic wear	ProACES, Aldasa, Alcadia Municipal Sonsonate, Canal 4, Leche salud, Ferreteria Santa Sofia, Coop-1
Santa Tecla	José Vidal Hernández	Ernesto Corti	Diego Chavarria	Kelme	Powerade, DLC, Canal 21, Pilsener,Claro, Plaza Merliot, Pollo Indio, Petrox, Dizucar, Bolívar, Toledo, The Moustache

Notable events[]

Point deduction[]

Pasaquina was docked 6 points for failing to pay over players' wages. However, this was later changed to a fine and Pasaquina were able to keep their points.

Sale of Luis Angel Firpo[]

In August 2017, Familia Galo, owners of Luis Angel Firpo, announced that they were putting the team up for sale. The Modesto Torres group was one of three known groups to have submitted a preliminary bid for the club. The other two groups were Julio Sosa group, former president of Aguila, and an unnamed Mexican group. [2] The sale was completed on September 16, to the Modesto Torres group for an unknown amount. [3]

Change of Ownership of Aguila[]

After weeks of protest from fans and criticism from players and the media for Aguila late payment for players, poor recruitment and lack of success. The Arieta group announced on 30 December 2017 that they were selling their operating rights for Aguila and would announce the names of the new owners in the new year. [4]

Primera division boycott[]

In October 2017, eleven clubs voted to boycott FESFUT and leave the primera division (Aguila were the only team to vote against leaving), causing round 12 to be suspended. [5] A few days later Limeno, Pasaquina, Audaz and Chalatenango voted to return to the Primera division. Following negotiations held by The El Salvador government between FESFUT and the other Primera division clubs, they returned to the primera division. As a protest of the decision to return to the primera division, Lisandrohl Pohl and Vidal Hernandez resigned as president and vice president [6]

Sale of Luis Angel Firpo for the second time[]

Owing to financial problem and complaints from fan bases, the Modesto Torres group put Luis Angel Firpo up for sale, the second time for the year.

Notable death from Apertura 2017 season and 2018 Clausura season[]

The following people associated with the Primera Division have died in end of 2017 and mid 2018.

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
Sonsonate	Eraldo Correia	Sacked	May 2017	Garabet Avedissian	May 2017	th ()
FAS	Emiliano Pedrozo	Moved to become assistant coach	May 2017	Cristian Álvarez	May 2017	th ()
Metapan	Alvaro Misael Alfaro	Moved to become assistant coach	May 2017	Edwin Portillo	May 2017	th ()
Chalatenango	N/A	New team formed	2017	Ricardo Serrano	May 2017	N/A

During the Apertura season[]

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Águila	Jorge Daniel Casanova	Sacked	August 2017	Osvaldo Escudero	August 2017	10th (Apertura 2017)
Sonsonate	Garabet Avedissian	Resigned	August 2017	Ruben Alonso	August 2017	10th (Apertura 2017)
Dragon	Henry Vanegas	Sacked	September 2017	Efrain Burgos	September 2017	11th (Apertura 2017)
Pasaquina	Omar Sevilla	Resigned	September 2017	Manuel Carranza Murillo	October 2017	th (Apertura 2017)
Chalatenango	Ricardo Serrano	Sacked	September 2017	William Renderos Iraheta	September 2017	th (Apertura 2017)
Firpo	Juan Ramón Sánchez	Sacked	October 2017	Eraldo Correia	October 2017	th (Apertura 2017)
Dragon	Efrain Burgos	Sacked	November 2017	Abel Blanco	November 2017	12th (Apertura 2017)

Between Apertura and Clausura seasons[]

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
C.D. Dragon	Abel Blanco/ Santos Rivera	Moved back to Assistant coach	November 2017	Diego Pizarro	November 2017	12th (Apertura 2017)
Audaz		Sacked	November 2017	Misael Alfaro	December 2017	Th (Apertura 2017)
Limeno	Hugo Ovelar	Contract finished	December 2017	Emiliano Barrera	December 2017	Th (Apertura 2017)
Santa Tecla	Ernesto Corti	Contract finished	December 2017	Rubén da Silva	December 2017	Th (Apertura 2017)

During the Clausura season[]

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment	Position in table
Pasaquina	Manuel Carranza Murillo	Sacked	February 2018	Francisco Robles 'Interim'	February 2018	10th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Audaz	Alvaro Misael Alfaro	Resigned	February 2018	Rafael Tobar and Emerson Umaña (Interim)	2018	12th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Aguila	Osvaldo Escudero	Sacked	February 2018	Marvin Benitez (Interim)	2018	4th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Sonsonate	Ruben Alonso	Resigned	February 2018	Juan Ramon Sanchez	2018	12th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo	Eraldo Correia	Sacked	February 2018	Victor Giron and Francisco Jovel (Interim)	2018	12th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Chalatenango	William Renderos Iraheta	Sacked	February 2018	Geovany Portillo (Interim)	2018	12th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Audaz	Rafael Tobar and Emerson Umaña (Interim)	Moved to become assistant coaches	February 2018	Carlos Romero	March 2018	12th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Aguila	Marvin Benitez (Interim)	Interim finished, moved to be assistant	March 2018	Miguel Aguilar Obando	March 2018	4th (Clausura 2018)
A.D. Isidro Metapan	Edwin Portillo	Resigned	March 2018	Agustin Castillo	March 2018	10th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo	Victor Giron and Francisco Jovel (Interim)	Interimship finished	March 2018	Giovanni Trigueros	March 2018	th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Municipal Limeno	Emiliano Barrera	Sacked	March 2018	Wilfredo Molina Interim	March 2018	th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Municipal Limeno	Wilfredo Molina Interim	Back to assistant coach	March 2018	Víctor Coreas	March 2018	th (Clausura 2018)
C.D. Dragon	Diego Pizarro	Sacked	April 2018	Santos Rivera Interim	April 2018	th (Clausura 2018)

Apertura 2017[]

League table[]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza	22	14	8	0	50	19	+31	50	Quarterfinals
2	Santa Tecla	22	10	9	3	41	23	+18	39
3	Isidro Metapán	22	11	4	7	36	30	+6	37
4	FAS	22	8	10	4	30	21	+9	34
5	Águila	22	6	9	7	32	38	−6	27
6	Chalatenango	22	6	8	8	21	23	−2	26
7	Municipal Limeño	22	7	5	10	24	30	−6	26
8	Pasaquina[a]	22	5	10	7	29	36	−7	25
9	C.D. Audaz	22	6	5	11	28	40	−12	23
10	Dragón	22	5	7	10	23	35	−12	22
11	Sonsonate	22	3	10	9	27	34	−7	19
12	Firpo	22	2	13	7	24	36	−12	19

Results[]

Scoring[]

• First goal of the season: Lorenzo Frutos for Santa Tecla F.C. against C.D. FAS, 33 minutes (July 29, 2017)
• First goal by a foreign player: Lorenzo Frutos for Santa Tecla F.C. against C.D. FAS, 33 minutes (July 29, 2017)
• Fastest goal in a match: 6 minutes
  • Mckauly Tulloch for A.D. Isidro Metapan against C.D. Pasaquina (July, 2017)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+2 minutes
  • own goal for A.D. Chalatenango against C.D. Aguila (August, 2017)
• First penalty Kick of the season: Herbert Sosa for Alianza F.C. against C.D. Dragon, minutes (July 30, 2017)
• Widest winning margin: 3 goals
  • A.D. Isidro Metapan 3–0 C.D. Pasaquina (July 29, 2017)
• First hat-trick of the season: Gustavo Guerreño for Alianza F.C. against Firpo (August 27, 2017)
• First own goal of the season: (C.D. Aguila) for Chalatenango (August, 2017)
• Most goals in a match: 8 goals
  • Alianza 5–3 A.D. Isidro Metapan (August, 2017)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 3 goals
  • A.D. Isidro Metapan 3–0 C.D. Pasaquina (July 29, 2017)
    A.D. Isidro Metapan 3-5 Alianza F.C. (August 2017)
• Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
  • TBD 5–2(1–2) TBD (2nd half, September 30, 2016)
• Most goals scored by losing team: 3 goals
  • A.D. Isidro Metapan 3–5 Alianza F.C. (August, 2017)
• Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
  • Gustavo Guerreño for Alianza F.C. against Firpo (August 27, 2017)
  • Gustavo Guerreño for Limeno against Firpo (September, 2017)
  • Armando Polo for Sonsonate against Firpo (October, 2017)
  • Gustavo Guerreño for Alianza F.C. against Aguila (November, 2017)

Top goalscorers[]

Source :^[2]

Rank	Player	Team	Goals
1	Gustavo Guerreño	Alianza	12
	Armando Polo	Sonsonate	12
3	Lorenzo Frutos	Santa Tecla	9
	José Gutierréz	Pasaquina	9
5	James Cabezas	Águila	8
	Daley Mena	Audaz	8
	Christian Sánchez	Isidro Metapán	8
8	Nicolás Muñoz	Firpo	7
	Jimmy Tulloch	Isidro Metapán	7
10	Gilberto Baires	Santa Tecla	6
	Zé Paulo	Sonsonate	6
	Luis Hinestroza	Alianza	6
	Javier Lezcano	Águila	6
	Luis Palacios	Pasaquina	6

Individual awards[]

Hombre GOL	Best Coach Award	Best Goalkeeper Award	Fair Player Award	Rookie Player Award
Gustavo Guerreño Alianza	TBD Sonsonate	Matías Coloca FAS	TBD Alianza	TBD FAS

Playoffs[]

	Quarterfinals						Semifinals						Finals
	Chalatenango	0	3	3
	Isidro Metapán (s)	1	2	3
							Isidro Metapán	1	1	2
							Santa Tecla (s)	0	2	2
	Limeno	0	0	0
	Santa Tecla (s)	0	0	0
													Santa Tecla	1
													Alianza F.C.	4
	Águila	0	1	1
	FAS (s)	0	1	1
							FAS	1	1	2
							Alianza F.C. (s)	1	1	2
	Pasaquina	0	0	0
	Alianza F.C.	0	4	4

Quarterfinals[]

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Metapan	3–3 (s)	Chalatenango	0–1	2–3
FAS	1–1 (s)	C.D. Aguila	1–1	2–0
Santa Tecla	0–0 (s)	Limeno	0–0	0–0
Alianza	4–0	Pasaquina	0–0	4–0

First leg[]

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Second leg[]

3-3. Isidro Metapan advanced as the higher seeded team.

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1-1. FAS advanced as the higher seeded team.

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Alianza won 4-0 on aggregate.

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0-0. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.

Semifinals[]

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Metapan	2-2 (s)	Santa Tecla	1-0	2-1
FAS	2-2 (s)	Alianza	1-1	1-1

First leg[]

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Second leg[]

2-2. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.

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

Final[]

Apertura 2017 Champions
Alianza 12th title

Clausura 2018[]

League table[]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza	22	16	3	3	37	15	+22	51	Quarterfinals
2	Santa Tecla	22	14	5	3	40	12	+28	47
3	FAS	22	14	3	5	39	23	+16	45
4	Águila	22	9	6	7	23	21	+2	33
5	Firpo	22	7	6	9	26	29	−3	27
6	C.D. Audaz	22	7	5	10	25	39	−14	26
7	Municipal Limeño	22	6	6	10	31	31	0	24
8	Sonsonate[a]	22	6	6	10	23	32	−9	24
9	Pasaquina	22	6	6	10	20	30	−10	24
10	Chalatenango	22	6	4	12	21	29	−8	22
11	Dragón	22	4	9	9	16	25	−9	21
12	Isidro Metapán	22	4	7	11	26	41	−15	19

Results[]

Records[]

• Best home records: Santa Tecla F.C. (31 points out of 33 points)
• Worst home records: C.D. Dragon (9 points out of 33 points)
• best away records : Alianza F.C. (23 points out of 33 points)
• worst away records : Sonsonate (5 points out of 33 points)
• Most goals scored: Santa Tecla F.C. (40 goals)
• Fewest goals: C.D. Dragon (16 goals)
• Fewest goals conceded : Santa Tecla F.C. (12 goals)
• Most goals conceded : A.D. Isidro Metapan (41 goals)

Scoring[]

• First goal of the season: Daniel Luna for Pasaquina against Audaz, 9 minutes (January 13, 2018)
• First goal by a foreign player: Javier Lescano for Aguila against Chalatenango, 35 minutes (January 13, 2018)
• Fastest goal in a match: 4 minutes
  • Gustavo Guerreño for Alianza F.C. against FAS (February 9, 2018)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+3 minutes
  • Elias Dandi goal for Isidro Metapan against Firpo (January 28, 2018)
• First penalty Kick of the season: Javier Lescano for Aguila against Chalatenango, 35 minutes (January 13, 2018)
• Widest winning margin: 4 goals
  • Santa Tecla F.C. 4–0 C.D. Audaz (2018)
• First hat-trick of the season: Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against C.D. Chalatenango (April 15, 2018)
• First own goal of the season: Nelson Moreno (Firp) for C.D. Aguila (February 19, 2018)
• Most goals in a match: 6 goals
  • TBD 4–2 TBD (August, 2017)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 4 goals
  • C.D. FAS 4–2 Firp (2018)
    Santa Tecla F.C. 4-0 C.D. Audaz (2018)
    Limeno 4–2 A.D. Isidro Metapan (2018)
• Most goals in one half by one team: 4 goals
  • TBD 5–2(1–2) TBD (2nd half, September 30, 2016)
• Most goals scored by losing team: 2 goals
  • Firpo 2–4 C.D. FAS (March 12, 2018)
    C.D. Audaz 2-3 C.D. FAS (March 8, 2018)
    C.D. Chalatenango 2-3 A.D. Isidro Metapan (February 25, 2018)
    C.D. Chalatenango 2-3 Limeno (February 22, 2018)
• Most goals by one player in a single match: 3 goals
  • Rodolfo Zelaya for Alianza against C.D. Chalatenango (April 15, 2018)

Top goalscorers[]

No.	Player	Club	Goals
1	Luis Perea	FAS	14
2	Diego Coca	Limeno	12
3	Javier Lezcano	Aguila	12
4	Ricardinho	Santa Tecla	11
5	Rodolfo Zelaya	Alianza	10
6	Nicolas Munoz	Pasaquina	9
7	Christopher Ramirez	Firpo	9
8	Gustavo Guerreno	Alianza	8
9	Irvin Herrera	FAS	7
9	Fredrick Ogangan	Limeno	7

Individual awards[]

Hombre GOL	Best Coach Award	Best Goalkeeper Award	Fair Player Award	Rookie Player Award
Luis Perea FAS	Jorge Humberto Rodriguez Alianza	Joel Almeida Santa Tecla F.C.	Rafael Garcia Alianza	TBD FAS

Playoffs[]

	Quarterfinals						Semifinals						Finals
	Audaz	1	3	4
	C.D. FAS	1	2	3
							Audaz	1	0	1
							Santa Tecla	2	4	6
	Limeno	1	0	1
	Santa Tecla (s)	1	0	1
													Santa Tecla	0
													Alianza F.C.	1
	Firpo	0	0	0
	Águila	1	0	1
							Águila	2	0	2
							Alianza F.C.	3	2	5
	Sonsonate	0	0	0
	Alianza F.C.	1	4	5

Quarterfinals[]

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
FAS	3–4	Audaz	1–1	2-3
C.D. Aguila	1–0	Firpo	0–1	0–0
Santa Tecla	1-1 (s)	Limeno	1–1	0–0
Alianza	5–0	Sonsonate	0–1	4–0

First leg[]

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Second leg[]

Audaz won 4-3 on aggregate.

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Aguila won 1-0 on aggregate.

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Alianza won 5-0 on aggregate.

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1-1. Santa Tecla advanced as the higher seeded team.

Semifinals[]

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Audaz	1-6	Santa Tecla	1-2	4-0
Aguila	2-5	Alianza	2-3	2-0

First leg[]

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Second leg[]

Santa Tecla won 5-2 on aggregate.

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Alianza won 5-2 on aggregate.

Final[]

Clausura 2018 Champions
Alianza 13th title

List of foreign players in the league[]

This is a list of foreign players in the 2017–18 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's before the close of the season transfer window.

(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season)

Aggregate table[]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Alianza	44	30	11	3	83	48	+35	101	2019 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
2	Santa Tecla	44	24	14	6	67	54	+13	86	2018 CONCACAF League[b]
3	FAS	44	22	13	9	48	49	−1	79	2018 CONCACAF League[c]
4	Águila	44	15	15	14	50	28	+22	60
5	Isidro Metapán	44	15	11	18	60	47	+13	56
6	Municipal Limeno	44	13	11	20	57	61	−4	50
7	Pasaquina	44	11	16	17	52	58	−6	49
8	Audaz	44	13	10	21	54	80	−26	49
9	Chalatenango	44	12	12	20	53	75	−22	48
10	Firpo	44	9	19	16	60	66	−6	46
11	Sonsonate	44	9	16	19	59	57	+2	43	Segunda División
12	Dragón	44	9	16	19	43	63	−20	43

Relegation playoff[]

References[]