Liga Nacional de Ascenso de Honduras
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| Country |  Honduras |
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| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Founded | 17 December 1979 |
| Number of teams | 26 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Liga Nacional |
| Relegation to | Liga Mayor |
| Current champions | C.D. Honduras |
| Website | none |
 2013-14 Liga de Ascenso |
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Liga de Ascenso (Promotion League) is the second division of Honduran football; it was founded on 17 December 1979 as Segunda División (Second Division) and renamed Liga de Ascenso (Promotion League) on 21 July 2002.[1] The league is divided into 4 groups: Zona Norte y Atlántica (North and Atlantic Zone), Zona Norte y Occidente (North and West Zone), Zona Centro y Sur (Central and South Zone), Zona Sur y Oriente (South and East Zone). The top 2 teams of each group qualifies for the liguilla (play-offs). Each season is divided into two tournaments, apertura (opening) and clausura (closing). The champion of the opening and closing tournament, compete for the promotion to Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras in a two-legged match.
Two teams are relegated to Liga Mayor de Futbol de Honduras. The last team of each group face off in a playoff (North vs North and South vs South).
Contents
History
From 1965 to 1979 the system of promotion to the Liga Nacional was ruled by the Extra-scholastic Sporting Federation of Honduras(Federación Deportiva Extraescolar de Honduras).[2] It was played in amateur form and the champion of the Central, Southern, and Oriental zone would play against the champion of the North Western zone. The Winner was promoted to the Liga Nacional. In the first tournament of the Liga Nacional there wasn't any promoted or relgated since it was a draft tournament.
It was until 1980 when the second division was founded which nowadays it's called Liga Nacional de Ascenso de Honduras (National Promotion League of Honduras).
In that season, the league didn't have any relegated team since the players of the Honduras national football team needed to be in training at full-time. From the year on, the rules have been applied and there have been many promoted and relegated teams.
From 2004 on the league was split into two seasons, apertura (opening) and clausura (closing). Promotion is decided by a two legged match between apertura and clausura champion. In the case of the same team being champion in both tournaments, promotion is automatic.
In 2006 Hispano was relegated from first division but they bought Valencia's category in the league; this situation has occurred with other teams. In 2002 Victoria were relegated but acquired Honduras Salzburg's spot.
In 2009 Atletico Gualala earned promotion but decided to merge with that year's relegated club, Real Juventud and kept their history. In 2003 Real Maya merged with Patepluma to form Real Patepluma.
2013-14 teams
May be incorrect
Teams from Zona Norte y Atlántica
- Arsenal (Roatan)
- CD Honduras (El Progreso)
- Social Sol (Olanchito)
- Sula (La Lima)
- Trujillo FC (Trujillo)
- Unión Sabá (Sabá)
- Yoro FC (Yoro)
Teams from Zona Norte y Occidente
- Atletico Choloma (Choloma)
- Atletico Limeño (La Lima)
- Atlético Municipal (Santa Cruz de Yojoa)
- Graciano San Francisco (Gracias)
- Atlético Nacional
- Olimpia Occidental (La Entrada)
- Real Juventud (Santa Bárbara)
- Villanueva FC (Villanueva)
Teams from Zona Central
- Atlético Esperanzano (La Esperanza)
- Atlético Independiente (Siguatepeque)
- Cobán Athletic (Jesús de Otoro)
- Comayagua FC (Comayagua)
- Unión Marcala (Marcala)
- UPNFM (Tegucigalpa)
Teams from Zona Centro-Sur y Oriente
- Alianza de Becerra (San Francisco de Becerra)
- Atlético Olanchano (Catacamas)
- Juticalpa F.C. (Juticalpa)
- Pumas San Isidro (Tegucigalpa)
- Valencia (Tegucigalpa)
- Valle FC (Nacaome)
Champions
Up until 2004, champions were awarded automatic promotion.
Promotion
In 2004 the league format was changed into short tournaments splitting the season into two separate tournaments, apertura (opening) and clausura (closing). Promotion was decided by a two-legged final until 2012, and is now contested in a single match between apertura champion and clausura champion. In the case that a same team is crowned champion both apertura and clausura, promotion is awarded automatically to said team.
| Season | Promoted | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Hispano | Deportes Savio |
| 1st leg: Hispano 0–0 Deportes Savio; 2nd leg: Deportes Savio 0–0 Hispano; Hispano 3–2 on penalties. | ||
| 2005–06 | Atlético Olanchano | Lenca |
| 1st leg: Lenca 1–0 Atlético Olanchano; 2nd leg: Atlético Olanchano 3–1 Lenca. | ||
| 2006–07 | Deportes Savio | Arsenal |
| Deportes Savio 1–0 Arsenal on aggregate. | ||
| 2007–08 | Real Juventud | n/a |
| As champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments, Real Juventud are automatically promoted. | ||
| 2008–09 | Atlético Gualala | Necaxa |
| 1st leg: Necaxa 1–1 Atlético Gualala; 2nd leg: Atlético Gualala 1–0 Necaxa. Gualala was bought and merged with that year's relegated team, Real Juventud. | ||
| 2009–10 | Necaxa | n/a |
| As champions of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments, Necaxa are automatically promoted. | ||
| 2010–11 | Atlético Choloma | Parrillas One |
| 1st leg: Parrillas One 1–1 Atlético Choloma; 2nd leg: Atlético Choloma 1–0 Parrillas One. | ||
| 2011–12 | Real Sociedad | Parrillas One |
| 1st leg: Parrillas One 0–0 Real Sociedad; 2nd leg: Real Sociedad 2–0 Parillas One. | ||
| 2012–13 | Parrillas One | Juticalpa |
| Parrillas One 1-1 (P: 5-4) Juticalpa. | ||
Relegation
In the current system, the last team of each group of the region play on a playoff.
