Second Division - Day 6
Hércules beat neighbours Elche 3-0 to top the table after Saturday's games. Delibasic was the hero of the night with a hat-trick, the first two before the break after combining with tote and Rufete. The Serbian striker got his third of the evening heading in a Farinós corner with ten minutes to go, although he spoilt it somewhat getting himself sent off by an over-zealous referee for a second booking for celebrating the goal.
The Alicante based side are a point ahead of last week's leaders Cartagena, who could only draw 0-0 with Villarreal B earlier in the evening. Despite the result it was a lively game, Juan Carlos having to save from local forwards Tato and Lafuente either side of half time, and Marco Rubén almost winning it for the visitors when he hit the bar later in the second half.
Levante could have been up with the leaders had they been able to hold on to a two goal half-time lead at home to Murcia, but the visitors came back to draw 2-2. Xisco and Javi Guerra scored for the hosts before the break, but Pallardó was sent off, and two goals in five minutes from Chando and Dani Aquino saved a point for José Miguel Campos's side.
Recreativo also lost ground on their rivals after they were beaten 1-2 by a revitalized Celta. Alvaro Antón put the locals ahead midway through the first half, but Iago Aspas equalised after the restart, and Trashorras gave Eusebio's side their first victory of the season from the penalty spot after the referee ruled that Raúl Cámara had handled in the area a few minutes later.
Down in the lower reaches, Castellón are still the only side without a victory after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Real Unión. Ulloa headed the visitors in to a fourth minute lead, but their keeper Carlos Sánchez was sent off a few minutes before half time for pushing Gorka Brit in the face, and Abasolo equalised soon afterwards. Brit rounded substitute keeper Lledó to give the Irún based side the lead with twenty minutes to go, and Goikoetxea rounded things of in injury time.
Girona stay in the bottom four after a 2-2 draw at Huesca, although they could have been out of the drop zone had José Vegar not saved a point for the locals with an injury time penalty after Almirón had fouled Helguera. Reinaldo beat Jorquera to open the scoring for the home side in the fourth minute, but although Peragón was sent off on the stroke of half time, strikes from Kiko Ratón and Sarmiento turned the scoreline around. (03.10.09)
Rayo Vallecano and Betis drew 2-2 on Sunday lunchtime, a result which maintained the status quo between the two sides. Sergio García set up Juande for the opener in the eighth minute, and although Rubén Castro headed in Jofre's cross to equalise three minutes later, Rivas restored the lead for the Andalusians from a corner soon afterwards. Piti took advantage of a defensive mistake to level the scores again though before the break, and Rubén Castro almost won it for the locals when he hit the post after the restart.
Later in the day Numancia and Real Sociedad kicked off knowing that the winner would move up in to the promotion spots, and it was the Basque side who took the spoils with a 1-3 victory. Zurutuza and Xabi Prieto put them two up at the break, and although Goiria got one back early in the second half, Xabi Prieto headed his second of the night past Eduardo a minute later.
The three other games on Sunday evening all ended with single goal victories. A Despotovic header from Salva Sevilla's free kick midway through the first half was enough for Salamanca to beat Nàstic 1-0. It was their first home win of the season, taking them above their opponents up to ninth in the table.
Córdoba also won 1-0 against Las Palmas, Pepe Díaz getting the only goal in the twentieth minute. The Andalusians had David Lopers sent off with five minutes to go, but they held on for a third home win in a row.
Cádiz moved away from the danger zone after they beat Albacete 0-1, Nano scoring the winner from a free kick ten minutes before half time. The Manchegans had the better chances but they couldn't beat Casilla, although they could have saved a point had the referee awarded them a penalty for a possible foul on Stuani. (04.10.09)
PS Elche decided to sack their manager Claudio Barragán after a string of poor results. A replacement has yet to be named. (04.10.09)
