Six of the eight matches on
day two were played on Saturday night as the country was hit by World Cup
fever. Real Madrid B bounced back from their defeat last week at the
hands of Almería to beat Pontevedra 5-0 and fight their way back
into the promotion race. Although the visitors' Manu hit the bar twice with
free kicks in the opening minutes, Luis García scored twice and Portillo
added a third in the last quarter of an hour of the first half. Valdo got
another just after the break, and Portillo made it five from the penalty spot
in the last minute after Corrales was brought down. Pontevedra's Alaéz
was sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before the penalty incident.
Almería stay
top of group D though after an undeserved 0-2 victory over Espanyol B.
Armindo gave the visitors the lead in the third minute with a shot from the
right of the area, but they were on the back foot after Flores got himself sent
off for a second yellow card late in the first half. Catalá hit the foot
of the post for the home side after the interval, but with everyone pushing
forward in time added on, Raúl made it two on a breakaway.
Almería head the table on six points, and Espanyol B are virtually out
of it with two defeats in a row.
Hospitalet moved to
the top of group C on goal difference after a 3-0 win over Motril. The
team from the outskirts of Barcelona have not lost on their artificial pitch
all season, and they took the lead through Bartres with less than ten minutes
on the clock. The Andalucians were never in the game, and Javi García
scored two more for the home side after the break, the first with a header
after a clever chip over the keeper and the second with a volley after an
earlier shot was blocked.
Hospitalet are level on four
points with Getafe, who beat Cultural Leonesa 1-2 thanks to a
late goal from Pulido. The Madrid based side took the lead somewhat fortunately
midway through the first half when Casquero put through his own net, but after
intensive pressure from the locals they gave away a penalty which Suárez
converted on the stroke of half time. The León team kept up the attack
after the break and hit the woodwork twice through Irazusta and Nacho before
Getafe got the winner on a rare breakaway.
The Basque country's lone
challenger Barakaldo kept alive their hopes with a 1-0 victory over
their North African rivals Ceuta. The only goal of their group A match
came from an individualist effort from Sendoa on the stroke of half time, and a
poor Ceuta had no response. Barakaldo move level with Terrassa on three points
pending their game on Sunday, and although it is early days yet, Ceuta look
like missing out once again on promotion.
Cash strapped
Compostela desperately need to be promoted back to the second division A
if they are to have any hope of survival, and they took a step towards their
goal with a 2-0 win over Valencia B. Jesús gave them the lead on
the half hour mark and Maikel added a second just after the break. However they
were reduced to ten men when Biscay picked up a second booking soon afterwards,
and had to hold on for almost all the second half for their victory.
(01.06.02)
Barcelona B moved to
the top of group B with a 3-2 victory over Mérida. The visitors
took the lead in the ninth minute through Edu after a defensive mix up between
keeper Víctor Valdés and Oleguer. However Motta levelled the
scores soon afterwards, and David Sánchez put the Catalans ahead before
the break. Babangida set up Trashorras for a third goal, and only first class
saves from Juanma stopped Trashorras and Motta from extending the lead. However
Edu pulled a late goal back heading home a free kick to set up an exciting
finish.
Terrassa moved to the
top of group A with a 0-1 win at Hércules. The only goal of the
game came ten minutes in to the second half from Keko, who headed home a free
kick from Juan Carlos. Earlier in the game Hércules keeper Toño
had saved a penalty from Monty, and Terrassa keeper Castillo also made a good
save from Santos near the end. Both teams ended with ten men after Navas for
the visitors and then Orlando for the locals were sent off in the second half.
(02.06.02) |