Second Division - Day 11
Real Sociedad are back on top of the pack after a 1-0 victory over Recreativo on a rainy evening in San Sebastian. Both sides hit the post in the first half, but Griezmann finally struck home the winner for the locals with a quarter of an hour to go. Real lost 5-1 to third placed Hércules the week before, but fortunes were reversed as the Alicante based side were beaten 1-0 by Huesca. Local keeper Miguel did well to keep out Delibasic before the break, but Rubiato beat his opposite number Calatayud with just under an hour on the clock to give his side their first home win of the season.
It seemed though that none of the teams below the top three wanted to win this weekend. Fourth placed Levante were beaten 3-2 by Salamanca despite leading with four minutes to go. Rossato's first half strike was overturned by goals either side of half time from Pallardó and Rubén, but Despotovic equalised again and Rossato struck the winner a minute later. And Rayo Vallecano were beaten 2-1 by Las Palmas in a match which attracted a lot of interest, as a match-fixing investigation was going on in to the 0-0 draw between these two sides at the end of last season. All the goals came after the break, Lamas getting the winner just a minute after Rubén Castro had equalised Guayre's earlier strike.
Numancia and Córdoba stay two points outside of the promotion spots after they cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw. Goiria headed the locals in to an early lead, but Palacios was sent off for handling in the area on the half hour mark, and Pepe Díaz equalised from the spot. Díaz got his second of the night after the restart, but Goiria saved a point for the Soria based side with his second goal later on. Gimnàstic stay a point behind them after a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Albacete, who move level with their opponents in the table. Antonio López and Stuani gave the visitors a two goal lead with strikes either side of half time, and although Morán got one back, López wrapped things up near the end.
Down at the other end of the table, Celta beat Castellón 2-1 to move to the brink of escaping the drop zone and to leave their opponents back at the bottom of the rankings. Jordi and Michu got the goals for the Galicians late in the first half, with Ulloa replying from the penalty spot after the restart. (07.11.09)
At the start of the season it was unthinkable that Cartagena could come in to the regional derby at Murcia thirteen points ahead of their bigger neighbours. But not only was that the case, the newly promoted side ran out 1-4 winners on Sunday lunchtime to return to the top of the table and leave their opponents further down in the drop zone. Within four minutes the visitors were two up thanks to strikes from veterans De Lucas and Víctor, and Toché made it three midway through the first half. Isaac got one back after the restart and Cartagena were left with ten men when Mario Sánchez was sent off, Dani Aquino firing the resulting free kick against the woodwork. But numbers were evened up when Sergio Fernández was sent off for giving away a late penalty, and Víctor stepped up to score his second of the day from the spot. (08.11.09)
Later in the day Betis could only draw 2-2 at neighbours Cádiz, and they ended the weekend in fifth spot. López Silva opened the scoring for the locals with a shot from a wide angle midway through the first half. His strike though was overturned by goals from Rodri and Pavone early in the second half, the first following a free kick and the second with a shot past Casilla. However with the game already in injury time Ogbeche headed the equaliser for the home side.
Girona confirmed their recovery under new coach Narcis Juliá with a 3-1 win over Villarreal B, their second victory in a row taking them out of the bottom four. Matamala opened the scoring with a first free kick and then set up Tortolero with another after the interval. Mussachio headed one back, but Xumetra wrapped things up at the end. The Catalans move above Huesca and Real Unión, who drop back in to the relegation battle after losing 2-1 to Elche. Robles gave the Basque side an early lead, but two goals from Jorge Molina turned the scoreline around. (08.11.09)
