Second Division - Day 40
Zaragoza are just two points away from promotion after beating Salamanca 1-3 on Saturday evening. Arizmendi set up Ewerthon for the Brazilan striker to score twice in the first eleven minutes, but Quique Martín pulled one back from the penalty spot after Pavón handled in the area midway through the first half. Jorge López wrapped things up late on though with a lob over the head of Biel Ribas to take his side above Tenerife pending their match with leaders Xerez tomorrow.
Marcelino's team are still not sure of promotion however after fourth placed Hércules beat city neighbours Alicante 1-2. Second half goals by Abel Aguilar and Rubén Navarro put the visitors two up, but Cristian López headed one back, and keeper Queco Piña almost equalised when he came up for a last minute corner.
Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad are both out of the promotion race, and there was only pride at stake as they met to fight over fifth place. The locals came away with the spoils though after a convincing 4-1 victory. Iván Amaya headed in a third minute corner and Diamé added a second before Agirretxe scrambled one back on the half hour mark. Piti turned in Jofre's pass to make it three though soon after the restart, and Llorens rounded things off with a screamer later on.
Later in the evening Castellón moved up to eighth place after a 1-0 win over Gimnàstic, Spanish under 21 international Emilio N'Sue picking up a Mario Rosas pass to score the only goal midway through the first half.
A dramatic finish to the relegation battle between Celta and Alavés, with the Galicians ensuring another season in the second division thanks to a last gasp 2-1 win. Iago Aspas headed in a Trashorras cross to put Eusebio's side ahead with ten minutes to go, but Juanjo turned in a De Marcos centre to equalise in the next to last minute. Aspas got his second of the night though after Bernardo could only palm out a shot from David Rodríguez, taking his side six points clear of their opponents.
The last relegation spot is now between Alavés and Las Palmas, who stay five points ahead of the Vitoria based side despite a 4-1 defeat at Córdoba. Ceballos and Arteaga put the Andalusians two up early on, and although Darino headed one back, Arteaga restored the two goal cushion before the break. The Canary Islanders had Samuel sent off after the restart, and Pepe Díaz ensured another season in the second division for the locals with a fourth goal later on.
Elsewhere Albacete and Murcia played out a dull 0-0 draw, enough to make sure that both sides stay up. Keepers Cabrero and Elía both had work to do, and there were red cards for Murcia full back De Coz in the first half and local defender Iker Begoña after the restart. When news came in that Alavés had lost though, both knew they were safe. (06.06.09)
Tenerife are on the brink of going up after they beat promotion rivals Xerez 2-0 on Sunday night. Alfaro gave the Canary Islanders the lead midway through the first half, but they were left with ten men when Ricardo was sent off before the break. Sergio Aragoneses kept out the Andalusians after the restart though, and with five minutes to go top scorer Nino made it two to take his side above their opponents on goal difference. Both teams just need one point in their last two games to be promoted, and even that would not be necessary if Hércules don't win both their remaining matches.
Three other games on Sunday evening, although none of them had anything at stake. The already relegated Eibar drew 2-2 with Girona, the Basque side taking the lead twice in the second half through Asier Sánchez and an Alaña penalty, with the Catalans levelling the scores both times through Felipe and a second Gerard penalty in the last minute. Huesca celebrated another season in the second division with a 3-0 win over bottom club Sevilla Atlético, Camacho and Corona scoring in the first half and Rubén Castro after the break. And Levante beat regional neighbours Elche 2-0, the goals coming from Adrián and Rubén Sánchez in the last eight minutes. (07.06.09)
