Motagua wins Honduran Apertura, qualifies for CCL

Motagua (blue jersey) celebrates after defeating Real Sociedad to win the Honduran Apertura title on December 20, 2014, in Tegucigalpa. (Photo courtesy of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras) TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- Motagua won its 13th Honduran title, defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 on Saturday in the second leg of the Apertura final to capture the series by the same score. The Ciclón Azul (Blue Cyclone) also qualified for the 2015/16 CONCACAF Champions League in what will be its third appearance in the competition. All the goals came in the first half at the Estadio Tiburcio Andino Carias.  Carlos Discua and Rubilio Castillo struck for the champion, while Juan Manuel Munguia netted in between for Real Socieded, which finished as runner-up for the third time in the last four tournaments. The host went ahead in 19th minute after Wilmer Crisanto was fouled five yards outside the box by Elkin Gonzalez.  Discua whipped in a left-footed free kick from the right that beat goalkeeper Sandro Carcamo and whisked inside the near post. Real Sociedad inched back into the game and looked increasingly dangerous.  Osman Melgares had a shot saved off the line, but the equalizer would follow through Munguia in the 35th minute. A speculative 35-yard effort by Melgares directly from a left-sided throw-in crashed off the crossbar and Munguia was there to slot home the rebound from within the six-yard box. Just when it appeared both sides would ahead into the break at 1-1, Motagua clinched its first crown since the 2011 Clausura. In the 44th minute, Juan Pablo Montes delivered a long ball from the left into box for Castillo.  The 23-year-old jumped above two defenders to head past Carcamo from seven-yards out. Motagua finished the regular season in third place on 28 points and extended its unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games.