The first leg of the grand final of the Apertura Tournament came to an exhilarating conclusion on December 19, 2024, as Club Deportivo Motagua and Club Deportivo Olimpia battled to a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés. Fans both local and from afar filled the seats, eager to see which legendary Honduran club would take the early lead toward the title.
The match began at breakneck speed, with Motagua quickly asserting their dominance. Just three minutes had ticked away on the clock when Argentinian forward Agustín Auzmendi found the net. Assisted by Jorge Serrano, Auzmendi cut through the Olimpia defense and curled the ball past goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar, igniting jubilation among the blue supporters. This goal marked Auzmendi's first strike against Olimpia, breaking his troubling drought of scoring against this formidable rival.
After the shock of the early goal, Olimpia, managed by Pedro Troglio, settled down and began to regain control of the match. The white team increased their ball possession, with Edwin Rodríguez making attempts from distance. Despite Motagua’s pressure, Olimpia found their footing and started to create cohesive plays. Nevertheless, it took until the 40th minute for them to capitalize on their dominance.
Yustin Arboleda emerged as the hero for Olimpia during this tense first leg. He leveled the score with remarkable finesse, securing the equalizer after an agile build-up play deep within Motagua's territory. Arboleda's strike, which soared to the top left corner of the goal, showcased his ability to perform at key moments. The first half concluded with grounding tension as Motagua faced the possibility of trailing as they headed toward the locker rooms.
The second half began filled with both teams applying relentless pressure, creating several nail-biting moments for the spectators. Early on, Arboleda had another chance to put Olimpia ahead, but his header was breathlessly saved by Motagua's Marlon Licona. Meanwhile, Motagua earned their fair chances, including one particularly contentious moment when referee Selvin Brown ruled against them after Menjívar handled the ball during a tense sequence leading to an indirect free kick. Carlos Mejía’s subsequent shot from the subsequent set-piece soared high, and Motagua was left pondering what could have been.
Despite their struggles, the match saw players from both teams suffer injuries, which disrupted the rhythm. Carlos Pineda took hard hits during the match, eventually leading to his withdrawal on the stretcher, creating concern among the Olimpia fans as they anticipated his availability for the return leg. Tensions escalated as the clock wound down, with heightened exchanges between players leading to multiple yellow cards issued by Brown.
Despite his best efforts, Troglio couldn't swing the game entirely back to his side, as Motagua began to regain traction later on with strategic substitutions bringing fresh energy onto the field. While several shots tested Menjívar's defenses, none could find their way home. The match ended with both teams still very much on equal footing, pushing everything to the return leg on December 22, 2024, where the ultimate fate of the championship will be decided.
Throughout the match, the atmosphere was electric, filled with spectators who experienced every emotional high and low. The draw has set up what is expected to be another thrilling encounter when both teams clash once more. Fans are left wondering whether Motagua can claim their long-awaited 19th title or if Olimpia can secure their fifth consecutive championship title and 39th overall.
The return match promises to be equally exciting as the first, with both teams eliminating room for error. Fans of Honduran football are eagerly awaiting what’s sure to be another remarkable chapter in this storied rivalry.
