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Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 17

Another closely fought contest in the second division, with only seven points separating the play-off spots from the relegation places. Zaragoza have finally got their season under way, and they are now just outside of the top six after a last minute 2-1 victory over Córdoba. The Andalusians themselves started the day a point ahead of their hosts, and only a couple of good saves by Leo Franco prevented them from taking the lead. With five minutes to go to the break though Diego Rico opened the scoring with a well struck free kick, but midway through the second half Dávila connected with Pacheco's wide free kick to equalize. The visitors were left with ten men however when Mendi picked up a second booking, and with the game in injury time Armando deflected a long shot by José Marí past his own keeper. The Maños are now level with Mallorca, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Numancia. The islanders had to play the last hour with ten men after Thomas got himself sent off for a second bookable offence, but they held on for a point which keeps them one above the Soria based team in the table.

Eibar stay in the top six for another week though thanks to a better goal difference than Zaragoza and Mallorca, although they fell to a second defeat in a row after losing 2-1 at Ponferradina. It was a freezing cold night in the Toralín stadium, and there was an early blow for the few local fans who turned up when Jota beat Santamaría with a low shot. However Marquitos hit the post soon afterwards, and midway through the first half Acorán equalized with a shot from outside of the area. Yuri Souza hit the woodwork again for the locals early in the second half, and with ten minutes to go his namesake Yuri Berchiche was sent off for bringing down Marquitos as he advanced on goal. Javi Lara fired home the resulting free kick, and although Diego Jiménez hit the bar in injury time, Claudio Barragán's side held on for a first win in five games. Ponfe are just two points outside of the play-off spots, level on points with four teams including Murcia, who drew 1-1 at Mirandés. Tete opened the scoring for the visitors on the quarter hour mark after good work by Wellington, who rattled the crossbar himself a few minutes later. However César Caneda got on the end of a Juan Muñiz free kick with two minutes to go to head in the equalizer, keeping his side just a point behind their opponents in the rankings. (08.12.13)

Deportivo moved two points clear at the top of the second division after a 2-1 victory over Alavés on Saturday evening. Juan Carlos Mandiá was in charge of the visitors for the first time after Natxo González was sacked midweek, and he saw his new side go behind on the half hour mark when Juan Carlos got on the end of a Luisinho cross to beat Goitia. Three minutes in to the second half Borja made it two after picking up a pass from Juan Domínguez, and soon afterwards Luis Fernández and Luisinho both came close to a third. However a few minutes later Viguera got one back from the penalty spot after Culio pulled back Quiroga, and local keeper Lux had to prove why he is the second division's top goalkeeper with a couple of important saves before the final whistle.

Sporting Gijón took advantage of the midweek defeats of the teams above them to move up to third following a 0-1 win at Hércules. Santi Jara got the only goal of the game in only the second minute, firing a shot in to the top corner of the net after a corner came back out to him. Barrera came close to a second when he hit the bar a few minutes later, and although the locals took control after that, they were not able to find a way through a well ordered defence. Hércules stay in the bottom four, two points ahead of Alavés and level on points with Sabadell, who were beaten 2-0 by neighbours Barcelona B. Eusebio's team had not won at home in three months, but Patric gave them the lead with a low shot from the edge of the area after Denis Suárez passed across soon after the restart. And a quarter of an hour later Sanabria made it two, rounding the keeper after another Suárez assist, to take his side four points clear of the relegation zone. (07.12.13)

With the fourth round of the Spanish cup due to take place on a weekend for the first time, the four league games involving second division sides still in the competition were brought forward to Wednesday evening. Leaders Recreativo and their neighbours Jaén were two of those, and they cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Linares opened the scoring for the locals in the twentieth minute, dragging the ball in off the far post with his heel after Montoro crossed in from the right by-line. But just two minutes later Nino equalized for the visitors from close up after Servando's shot came back off the post. After the restart René had to push a lob from Linares over the top, and Edgar and José Cruz both went close in reply, but in the end both teams settled for a point. The draw gives Deportivo a chance to return to the top when they play Alavés on Saturday, but whatever the result, the top two are sure of a healthy gap over the rest after the two teams immediately below them both lost.

Third placed Lugo were beaten 1-2 by an Alcorcón side who are hoping to re-live their cup glory at the weekend against Granada. Both teams had chances in the first half, Iago Díaz hitting the post for the hosts and Piti clearing off the line from Antonio Martínez at the other end with the keeper beaten. Just three minutes after the interval Iribas headed the visitors in front from a wide Mora free kick, but with twenty minutes to go substitutes Iván Pérez and Sandaza combined for the latter to turn in the former's cross. Ten minutes later Alcorcón were left with ten men when héctor Verdés picked up a second booking, but with a couple of minutes to go Mora set up Iribas again for the full back to score his second of the evening.

Wednesday night saw a first Canary Islands derby in three years, fourth placed Las Palmas losing 3-0 to local rivals Tenerife. The turning point in the game came in the twentieth minute when visiting keeper Barbosa was sent off for bringing down Suso in the area, Ricardo León stepping up to drill the resulting spot kick past reserve keeper Raúl. Momo and Nauzet both had chances to level the scores with direct free kicks late in the first half, but some twenty minutes after the restart Ayoze latched on to an Aitor Sanz assist to make it two, and ten minutes later the young striker netted his second of the evening after Suso put him through on a rapid counter-attack.

Girona may be pardoned for taking their eyes off the ball as well prior to their first leg cup tie against Getafe, although a 3-2 defeat at bottom club Real Madrid Castilla left the Catalans just two points above the drop zone pending the weekend matches. Ricardo Rodríguez's side took the lead somewhat against the play when Gerard Bordas headed in an Iván López cross in the twentieth minute. However either side of half time Raúl de Tomás made it all square and then set up Lucas to put the locals in front, and although Jandro levelled the scores again a few minutes later after Felipe Sanchón intercepted a bad José Rodríguez pass, Borja García latched on to a Noblejas pass to score the winner for Manolo Díaz's team near the end. (04.12.13)