2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season
# 2017–18 Primera División de Fútbol Profesional season

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 .

### 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 | German Pérez | 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. The sale was completed on September 16, to the Modesto Torres group for an unknown amount.

### 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.

### 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. 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

### 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.

* Elmer Acevedo
* Raúl Antonio García
* Juan Ramón Pacheco
* Carlos Eduardo Pineda
* Fabio de Azevdo
* Lino Medina
* Axel Hochkoeppler

## 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 (Clausura 2017) |
| FAS | Emiliano Pedrozo | Moved to become assistant coach | May 2017 | Cristian Álvarez | May 2017 | th (Clausura 2017) |
| Metapan | Alvaro Misael Alfaro | Moved to become assistant coach | May 2017 | Edwin Portillo | May 2017 | th (Clausura 2017) |
| 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 | German Pérez | 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 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Isidro Metapán | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 36 | 30 | +6 | 37 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | FAS | 22 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 34 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Águila | 22 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 32 | 38 | −6 | 27 | Quarterfinals |
| 6 | Chalatenango | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 26 | Quarterfinals |
| 7 | Municipal Limeño | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 30 | −6 | 26 | Quarterfinals |
| 8 | Pasaquina | 22 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 29 | 36 | −7 | 25 | Quarterfinals |
| 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 | |

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

### Results

| Home \ Away | ÁGU | ALI | AUD | CHA | DRA | FAS | FIR | MET | LIM | PAS | STE | SON |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Águila | | 1–3 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Alianza | 5–0 | | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 5–3 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Audaz | 2–2 | 2–3 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 |
| Chalatenango | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Dragón | 4–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| C.D. FAS | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Firpo | 1–1 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Isidro Metapán | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Limeño | 1–3 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| Pasaquina | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 3–3 | 4–3 |
| Santa Tecla | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | | 2–1 |
| Sonsonate | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–4 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | |

**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
   * Javier Lezcano 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: Javier Lezcano (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 :

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Gustavo Guerreño | Alianza | 12 |
| 1 | Armando Polo | Sonsonate | 12 |
| 3 | Lorenzo Frutos | Santa Tecla | 9 |
| 3 | José Gutierréz | Pasaquina | 9 |
| 5 | James Cabezas | Águila | 8 |
| 5 | Daley Mena | Audaz | 8 |
| 5 | Christian Sánchez | Isidro Metapán | 8 |
| 8 | Nicolás Muñoz | Firpo | 7 |
| 8 | Jimmy Tulloch | Isidro Metapán | 7 |
| 10 | Gilberto Baires | Santa Tecla | 6 |
| 10 | Zé Paulo | Sonsonate | 6 |
| 10 | Luis Hinestroza | Alianza | 6 |
| 10 | Javier Lezcano | Águila | 6 |
| 10 | 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 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | Chalatenango | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Isidro Metapán (s) | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Isidro Metapán (s) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Isidro Metapán | Isidro Metapán | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | Santa Tecla (s) | Santa Tecla (s) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 7 | Limeno | 0 | 0 | 0 | Santa Tecla (s) | Santa Tecla (s) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Santa Tecla (s) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Santa Tecla (s) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | Santa Tecla | Santa Tecla | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 4 |
| 5 | Águila | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 4 |
| 4 | FAS (s) | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | FAS (s) | 0 | 1 | 1 | FAS | FAS | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | Alianza F.C. (s) | Alianza F.C. (s) | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 8 | Pasaquina | 0 | 0 | 0 | Alianza F.C. (s) | Alianza F.C. (s) | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 1 | 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 |

* $^†$ Order of legs reversed.

**Quarterfinals**

**Second leg**

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

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

Alianza won 4-0 on aggregate.

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 |

**Semifinals**

**Second leg**

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

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

**Final**

Alianza F.C. :

| GK | 1 | Víctor García |
| - | - | - |
| DF | 3 | Ivan Mancía | 40' |
| DF | 20 | Darío Ferreira |
| DF | 15 | Jonathan Jiménez |
| DF | 28 | Rudy Clavel | 5' | 59' |
| MF | 6 | Narciso Orellana |
| MF | 27 | Issac Portillo | 83' |
| MF | 21 | Marvin Monterrosa | | 73' |
| MF | 17 | Alexander Larín | | 51' |
| MF | 18 | Gustavo Guerreño | 95' |
| FW | 22 | Rodolfo Zelaya | 79' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| FW | 9 | Óscar Cerén | | 51' |
| FW | 10 | Rubén Marroquín | | 59' |
| FW | 10 | Juan Carlos Portillo | | 73' |
| Manager: |||||
| Jorge Humberto Rodriguez |||||

Santa Tecla F.C. :

| GK | 1 | Joel Almeida |
| - | - | - |
| DF | 6 | Bryan Tamacas |
| DF | 5 | Alexander Mendoza | 84' |
| DF | 4 | Juan Barahona |
| DF | 17 | Kevin Ayala | | 38' |
| MF | 15 | Diego Chavarría |
| MF | 22 | Ricardinho | 76' |
| MF | 23 | Wanderson Silvera | | 25' |
| MF | 31 | Kevin Reyes | 5' |
| FW | 19 | William Canales | | 50' |
| FW | 8 | Lorenzo Frutos |
| Substitutes: |||||
| FW | 7 | Harold Alas | | 25' |
| MF | 25 | Jacobo Moreno | | 38' |
| MF | 11 | Gilberto Baires | | 50' |
| Manager: |||||
| Ernesto Corti |||||

* 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 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | FAS | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 45 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Águila | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 33 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Firpo | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 26 | 29 | −3 | 27 | Quarterfinals |
| 6 | C.D. Audaz | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 39 | −14 | 26 | Quarterfinals |
| 7 | Municipal Limeño | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 24 | Quarterfinals |
| 8 | Sonsonate | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 32 | −9 | 24 | Quarterfinals |
| 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 | |

* ↑ Sonsonate finished in eighth place, however due to having to play a relegation game to stay in the primera division, they were forced to forfeit their finals spot to Pasaquina, Later were given the right to play in the quarter final

### Results

| Home \ Away | ÁGU | ALI | AUD | CHA | DRA | FAS | FIR | MET | LIM | PAS | STE | SON |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Águila | | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Alianza | 3–0 | | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Audaz | 3–1 | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 |
| Chalatenango | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Dragón | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 |
| C.D. FAS | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 4–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| Firpo | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 |
| Isidro Metapán | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 |
| Limeño | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 4–2 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Pasaquina | 0–3 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Santa Tecla | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 4–1 |
| Sonsonate | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | |

**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 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | Audaz | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | C.D. FAS | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | C.D. FAS | 1 | 2 | 3 | Audaz | Audaz | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | Santa Tecla | Santa Tecla | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | |
| 7 | Limeno | 1 | 0 | 1 | Santa Tecla | Santa Tecla | 2 | 4 | 6 | | | |
| 2 | Santa Tecla (s) | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Santa Tecla (s) | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | Santa Tecla | Santa Tecla | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 1 |
| 5 | Firpo | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 1 |
| 4 | Águila | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Águila | 1 | 0 | 1 | Águila | Águila | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | |
| 8 | Sonsonate | 0 | 0 | 0 | Alianza F.C. | Alianza F.C. | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | |
| 1 | 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 |

* $^†$ Order of legs reversed.

**First leg**

**Second leg**

Audaz won 4-3 on aggregate.

Aguila won 1-0 on aggregate.

Alianza won 5-0 on aggregate.

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 |

**Semifinals**

**Second leg**

Santa Tecla won 5-2 on aggregate.

Alianza won 5-2 on aggregate.

**Final**

Alianza F.C. :

| GK | 1 | Víctor García |
| - | - | - |
| DF | 28 | Rudy Clavel | 17' | 59' |
| DF | 20 | Darío Ferreira |
| DF | 2 | Ivan Mancía |
| DF | 15 | Jonathan Jiménez |
| MF | 21 | Marvin Monterrosa | | 82' 40' |
| MF | 6 | Narciso Orellana | 49' |
| MF | 27 | Issac Portillo | 51' |
| MF | 9 | Óscar Cerén | 86' |
| FW | 10 | Herbert Sosa | 23' |
| ST | 18 | Gustavo Guerreño | | 60' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| FW | 22 | Rodolfo Zelaya | | 60' |
| MF | 17 | Alexander Larín | | 59' |
| FW | 10 | Juan Carlos Portillo | | 82' |
| Manager: |||||
| Jorge Humberto Rodriguez |||||

Santa Tecla F.C. :

| GK | 1 | Joel Almeida |
| - | - | - |
| DF | 5 | Alexander Mendoza |
| DF | 23 | Elieser Quinones | 23' |
| DF | 19 | William Canales |
| MF | 20 | Andres Jaco Flores |
| MF | 31 | Kevin Reyes | | 73' |
| MF | 43 | Fernando Quintanilla |
| MF | 21 | Wilma Torres | 72' |
| MF | 11 | Gilberto Baires | 22' |
| FW | 22 | Ricardinho | | 65' 51' |
| FW | 7 | Harold Alas | | 55' |
| Substitutes: |||||
| MF | 10 | Gerson Mayen | | 55' |
| FW | 14 | Liber Quinones | | 65' |
| MF | 33 | Jacobo Moreno | | 73' |
| Manager: |||||
| Ruben Da Silva |||||

* 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:

* Have played at least one game for the respective club.
* 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.

* Águila
* James Cabezas
* Yair Ibargüen
* Javier Lezcano
* Richard Dixon
* José Ramírez
* Jaime Sierra
* Damián Óscar Luna
* Alianza
* Luis Hinestroza
* Gustavo Guerreño
* Darío Ferreira
* Víctor Rafael García
* Audaz
* Jerson Steven Aguilar
* Eduard Steven Rodríguez
* Alonso Umaña Popo
* Daley Mena
* Tardelis Peña González
* Cristian Sánchez Prette
* Milton Geovanny Palacios
* Chalatenango
* Bladimir Diaz
* Carlos Fernando Angulo
* Yohalin Palacios
* Wílmar Hernández
* Dragón
* Josielson Moraes
* Harold Contreras
* Carlos Urrego
* Jefferson Viveros
* Cristian Pinzón
* Jhonny Riascos
* Yuberney Franco
* FAS
* Guillermo Stradella
* Matías Coloca
* Allan Muraldo
* Teobaldo Quezada
* Juan Aimar
* Luis Alberto Perea
* Firpo
* Jhony Rios
* César Iván González
* Pierre Alexandre Pluchino Galuppo
* François Swaby
* Mahecha Bermúdez
* Rodrigo de Brito
* Ricardo John
* Isidro Metapán
* Ayukokata Ndip
* Matthias Bonvehi
* German Ramírez Urenda
* Mckauly Tulloch
* Jefferson Viveros
* Ricardo Velazco
* Ameth Ramírez
* Elias Dandi
* Limeño
* Jeremías Pereira
* Jorge Cáceres
* Andrés Britez
* Counsellor Fredrick Ogangan
* Wilfredo Cienfuegos
* Clayvin Zuniga
* Fernando Gutierrez
* Pasaquina
* Jackson de Oliveira
* Luis Palacios
* Leston Paul
* Dwane James Ronaldo
* Devaughn Elliott
* Jeison Quiñones
* Sonsonate
* Zé Paulo
* Franklin Eduardo García
* David Leonardo Alcaraz
* Armando Polo
* Mckauly Tulloch
* Nicolás Fagúndez
* José Manuel Rivera
* Luis Fernando Copete
* Santa Tecla
* Ricardinho
* Joel Almeida
* Lorenzo Rodrigo Frutos
* Wanderson Silveiro Echeverría
* Liber Quiñones
* Yosimar Quiñónez

(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 |
| 2 | Santa Tecla | 44 | 24 | 14 | 6 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 86 | 2018 CONCACAF League |
| 3 | FAS | 44 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 48 | 49 | −1 | 79 | 2018 CONCACAF League |
| 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 | Segunda División |

* ↑ As Apertura champion and team with the best accumulation of points
* ↑ As Apertura and Clausura runners-up
* ↑ As non-finalists with best aggregate
