The 1968 Honduran Cup was the first football cup played in Honduras, the tournament was won by Motagua and it was divided into two groups of five, advancing the top two to the final round.[1] The celebration and international recognition of the country's inaugural cup was overshadowed by the national team's loss eight months later in World Cup qualifications against El Salvador, which was played several weeks before both countries waged a four-day war.[2]

1968 Honduran Cup
Copa de Honduras 1968
Tournament details
Host countryHonduras
Dates27 October–22 December 1968
Teams10
Final positions
ChampionsMotagua (1st title)
Runners-upEspaña
Third placePlatense
1972

First round

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Motagua 4 3 1 0 9 2 +7 7 Semifinals
2 Atlético Indio 4 2 0 2 6 5 +1 4
3 Victoria 4 2 0 2 2 7 −5 4
4 Olimpia 4 1 1 2 5 5 0 3
5 Atlético Español 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 2
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 España 4 2 1 1 7 3 +4 5 Semifinals
2 Platense 4 1 2 1 8 7 +1 4
3 Marathón 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 4
4 Vida 4 1 2 1 3 4 −1 4
5 Honduras 4 1 1 2 3 7 −4 3
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.

Final Round

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Oddly, instead of inter-crossing the winners and runner-ups of each group, the semifinals were played within the group contenders. In case of a leveled score after 90 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out of three (3) shots pear team, taken by a single player.[3]

Semifinals

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15 December 1968 España 3–0 Platense San Pedro Sula
Marshall   42'
Garden   69'
Greenech   84'
Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán

Third place

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22 December 1968 Platense 1–1
(3–3 p)
Atlético Español San Pedro Sula
Brooks   30'   30' Montoya Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán
Penalties
Garay             Gutiérrez
Note: After a 1–1 draw in 90 minutes of play and a 3–3 draw in penalty shoot-outs; Platense won in a coin toss.

Final

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22 December 1968 España 2–2
(1–2 p)
Motagua San Pedro Sula
Greenech   59'   65'   44' Baptista
  61' Godoy
Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán
Penalties
Hidalgo             Banegas
1968 Honduran Cup Champion

Motagua
1st title

References

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  1. ^ "Honduras 1968/69". RSSSF.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Honduras v El Salvador: The football match that kicked off a war". BBC.
  3. ^ "Ismael Ramos". Twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 23 July 2018.