Valladolid moved temporarily to the top of the table pending Girona’s game later in the day after a high-scoring 3-4 win at Albacete on Sunday lunchtime. The Manchegans started the weekend at the bottom of the table after five defeats in a row, but Rubén Cruz gave them an early lead with a shot past Javi Varas after controlling Samu’s cross. However by half time the visitors had turned the scoreline around with three goals, Oscar González and Bergdich beating Diego Rivas following centres by Peña and Chica, and Mojica running through from midfield to steer a shot under the keeper’s legs. When Bergdich added a fourth from Mojica’s cross soon after the restart the game appeared to be over, but Jorge Díaz got one back with a long shot soon afterwards, and with the game coming to an end Rubén Cruz netted his second of the day to set up a frantic finish. Referee Sagués Oscoz wasn’t there to see the end though as he fell awkwardly in the first half when running backwards, and had to be taken to hospital with a broken arm.
Girona didn’t fail though a few hours later, a 3-0 victory over Mirandés taking them two points clear of Valladolid once again. The game swung in their favour in the twentieth minute when visiting keeper Razak was sent off for bringing down Sandaza in the area, Felipe Sanchón drilling home the resulting spot kick. Razak’s replacement Imanol had to make a couple of good saves after that, but he was well beaten when Sandaza cut in from the right to fire an angled shot into the net early in the second half. Mirandés were left with nine men a few minutes later when Corral brought down Sandaza a few minutes later, the second time in a row they have had two players sent off in the Montivili stadium (last year it was two goalkeepers!), and Gerard Bordás volleyed home Juncà’s cross with ten minutes to go to give the Catalans their fourth win in a row. Sporting Gijón are still three points behind Girona though after they beat Osasuna 2-0, and after this weekend’s results the Asturians are the only unbeaten team in the top two divisions. Lora put them in front in the third minute with a shot which took a deflection off David García, but Cuéllar had to make a string of saves after that, and it was only when young substitute Carlos Castro latched on to Jony’s pass to beat Santamaría in the last minute that the home fans could relax.
Zaragoza are going from strength to strength, and they are in to the play-off spots for the first time this season after a 1-3 win at Alcorcón. The Maños had not lost in six games before this one, and they went in front with less than a minute on the clock when Borja Bastón headed in a corner. Fausto equalized ten minutes later following another corner, and Oscar Whalley had to keep out Oscar Plano soon afterwards, but some four minutes in to the second half Jaime Romero restored the lead after Willian José set him up on a quick breakaway. David Rodríguez had a strike ruled out for a dubious offside a few minutes later, but Borja wrapped things up with a third goal from Eldin’s cross with twenty minutes to go. Barcelona B drop down to ninth though after they lost 2-0 at Tenerife later in the evening. Suso opened the scoring for the Canary Islanders with an angled shot in off the crossbar midway through the first half, and Ifrán got the second with a shot on the turn following a corner some five minutes after the break. Eusebio’s side ended with ten men after Patric got himself sent off for a hard tackle on Guarrotxena with ten minutes to go.
Tenerife climb out of the bottom four as a result of their win, a point ahead of Llagostera, who drew 1-1 at Lugo. The Catalans were under new management after Santi Castillejo was fired midweek, Lluis Carillo returning to take over together with technical director Oriol Alsina. But although they had the better chances in the first half, they went behind when René could only push out a long shot by Iago Díaz, Luis Fernández turning in the rebound. With a quarter of an hour to go however Querol headed Alcalá’s long punt across for Sergio León to turn a shot back past José Juan, and Jorge came within inches of winning it for them when he headed a long free kick just past the post. Llagostera stay a point ahead of Numancia, who remain in next to bottom spot after a 1-1 draw with Leganés in the last match of the weekend. The Soria based side have yet to win at home, although they did take the lead in the third minute when Gerrit fired a low shot past Queco Piña after the keeper could only push out Regalón’s header following a Julio Alvarez free kick. However a quarter of an hour later Mantovani made it all square after Alvaro García’s free kick was played back in to the area, and after Braian Rodríguez was sent off for a second bookable offence with twenty minutes to go, local keeper Munir had to be at his best to at least ensure a point for his team. (26.10.14)
Las Palmas remain in second spot pending Sunday’s games after they drew 2-2 at Ponferradina on Saturday evening. The Castilla-León based side had not dropped a single point at home all season, and they took the lead with ten minutes to go to the break, Andy’s free kick hitting a defender to wrong-foot Casto. Moldovan had to be at his best to keep out a Nauzet free kick at the other end a few minutes later though, and although Yuri hit the post after the restart, Araujo made it all square with an angled shot on the hour mark. Acorán restored the lead for the home side after a corner came out to him midway through the second half, but Nauzet fired home the equalizer with ten minutes to go, and after local striker Berrocal was sent off for a second bookable offence, both teams settled for a point.
Ponfe stay two points behind the Canary Islanders in the table, level now with Betis, who picked up their first win in four games after beating regional rivals Recreativo 3-2. Local coach Julio Velázquez was under a lot of pressure to get a result, and with ten minutes gone Rennella connected with Kadir’s pass to put the Andalusians ahead, their first goal in five games. Montoro levelled the scores with a header just three minutes later, but with the first half coming to a close Rubén Castro won a penalty off Dani Sotres which he himself converted, and Kadir made it three from a second spot kick after Menosse fouled Castro in the area early on in the second half. Nuñez got another one back though from a Pedro Ríos assist soon afterwards, and there were some nervous moments before Menosse and then Corcoles were sent off for second bookable offences, leaving the visitors with nine men.
Recre drop below their hosts in the rankings, three points above Alavés, who managed a late 1-1 draw at Racing Santander. Javi Soria gave the Cantabrians the lead shortly before the break, turning the ball in to the net after Samuel’s header came back off the post following a corner. However the visitors went close several times after the restart, and with three minutes to go Manu Barreiro equalized with a direct free kick after Oriol was sent off for a second bookable offence. Racing are now just a point above the bottom four, two points below Mallorca, who moved clear of the danger zone after a 1-0 victory over Sabadell. The islanders are gradually getting their campaign back on track after winning their last two games before this, and a second half Arana penalty after Scepovic was fouled in the area took Karpin’s side a point above the Catalans in the table. (25.10.14)