Second Division - Day 16
Real Sociedad hold on to top spot of the second division after beating bottom club 0-1 Castellón in the opening game of the weekend. The Basque side had not won away from home for over two months, but Labaka got the only goal from Xabi Prieto's corner in the twentieth minute, and visiting keeper Bravo did the rest. Hércules stay two points behind Real after a 2-0 victory over Girona later in the evening. Danciulescu opened the scoring from Delibasic's assist with just over half an hour gone, and the Alicante based side hit the woodwork three or four times before Kiko Femenia wrapped things up near the end.
Rayo Vallecano are back up to fourth pending Sunday's games after a 4-1 victory over Numancia. Coke started things off on the quarter hour mark, and Aganzo added two more before the break. Lago Junior headed one back midway through the second half, but Pachón came on to complete the scoreline with two minutes to go. Córdoba are now a point behind Rayo after they drew 0-0 at regional neighbours Recreativo. Lucas Alcaraz returned to his old hunting ground to come away with a point, although the only point of interest was the cordial atmosphere on the terraces between the two groups of supporters.
Villarreal B are also level with Rayo and four other teams on 23 points after a 2-1 win over next to bottom Murcia. Musacchio headed the opener seven minutes in to the second half, and Cristóbal scored a second a few minutes later before Chando's injury time consolation. Levante are now a point below their neighbours after losing 1-0 to Albacete. Stuani scored his tenth of the season in the second half to give new coach Julián Rubio his first victory in charge of the Manchegans. (12.12.09)
Betis moved up in to the top three after a 3-0 win over Gimnàstic on Sunday evening. The visitors were left with ten men when Mingo picked up a second booking midway through the first half, and Mehmet Aurelio opened the scoring from Nacho's headed pass before the break. Twenty minutes in to the second half Sergio García made it two after Nacho's shot came back off the crossbar, and three minutes later Emaná rounded things off with a shot from outside of the area in off the bar.
Cartagena drop out of the promotion places after a 3-4 defeat earlier in the day against Salamanca, who are now level with their opponents and Betis in the table. Kike put the visitors ahead, and although Toché equalised on the half hour mark, second half goals from Rossato and Linares restored the lead for Juan Carlos Oliva's team. Two goals in three minutes by Toché and Tato squared the match once again, but with two minutes to go Despotovic got on the end of Toti's cross to score the winner.
Further down the table Celta moved out of the relegation spots after a 2-1 victory over Elche. A Pablo Lago shot and a Català header put the Galicians two up in the second half, and Marti Crespo's injury time goal came too late to change the result. Real Unión stay in the bottom four after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Huesca. Gorka Brit missed a penalty before giving the locals the lead with a spectacular overhead kick a quarter of an hour from the end, but Moisés converted a second penalty to save a point with five minutes to go. Cádiz and Las Palmas stay just clear of the danger zone after a scoreless draw, the locals happy to pick up a point after Nano was sent off with half an hour to go. (13.12.09)
