The first legs of the play-off semi-finals took place on Sunday, with good results for the two teams who lost in the Group Champions play-offs last week. Albacete kicked things off with a 1-1 draw at Atlético Baleares, José Fran giving the Manchegans the lead at the start of the second half, and Xisco Hernández saving the draw for the Mallorca based side with an injury time penalty after Arroyo brought down Rubén Jurado in the area. Later in the evening Barcelona B won 1-2 at Cartagena, Dani Romera battling through to give the Catalans the lead soon after the break, and Gumbau firing home the winner after Germán had levelled it for the locals. Racing Santander are struggling though after they lost 2-0 at Villanovense, Jesús Rubio converting his third penalty of the play-offs to put the Extremadura based team in front, and Mustafá making it two later on in the second half. Real Murcia were also beaten 2-1 in their visit to Valencia Mestalla, Quim Araújo scoring a goal in each half for the Ches, and Armando making it all square momentarily in-between.
Cultural Leonesa and Lorca FC were both promoted last weekend, and they met over two legs to decide the honorary title of second division B champions. The first leg took place on Thursday in Lorca, the game ending 1-1, with Toni giving the visitors an early lead, and Poley equalizing from the penalty spot after Leandro brought down Molo in the area with three minutes to go. Cultural came back from behind though to win the second leg 3-1 on Sunday, Noguera putting David Vidal’s team in front with just under an hour gone, but a Molo own goal and strikes by Benja and Gallar turning things around in the last quarter of an hour or so. (04.06.17)