Second Division - Day 19
Real Sociedad took a step further towards a return to the top flight after a 4-1 victory over Cádiz on Saturday evening. Diego Tristán put the visitors in front in the seventh minute on a snowy evening in San Sebastian, but four minutes later Aranburu equalised. Two minutes after the restart Agirretxe gave the locals the lead, and an Elustondo free kick and a fourth goal from Griezmann ensured an eighth home win in a row for the Basque side. Earlier in the evening Numancia beat Betis 3-0 to move up into the promotion spots, a result which could cost visiting coach Antonio Tapia his job. Del Pino headed in Nano's cross early in the first half, and after the break Nano scored the second himself and then set up Mikel Alvaro for the third.
Gimnàstic started the weekend with a chance to make it up to the top three, but in the end they finished four points off after a 0-2 defeat against Celta. Toni opened the scoring for the Galicians midway through the first half, and after a partial floodlight failure, Joselu headed the second before the interval. Campano and Joselu were both sent off near the end. Celta move four points clear of the drop zone, level with Recreativo and Albacete, who could only draw 0-0. It was a disappointment for the local fans after their great result against Atlético in the cup midweek. Murcia drop further down into the relegation spots though after a 0-2 defeat against Elche, Juli got the first with half an hour gone, and Molina rounded things off at the end after Bruno missed a penalty and De Coz was sent off for the hosts. (09.01.10)
Hércules and Real Sociedad are neck-and-neck at the top of the second division after the Alicante based side beat third placed Cartagena 2-0 on Sunday lunchtime. Danciulescu opened the scoring following a Farinós corner on the stroke of half time, and Delibasic headed the second with the game already in injury time. It was another clean sheet for Calatayud, who has only let in ten goals all season. Hércules stay in first place thanks to a better goal difference.
The weekend's games were affected by the weather however, with the fixtures between Salamanca and Castellón, and Córdoba and Rayo Vallecano, called off shortly before kick-off due to heavy snow storms. Under league ruled, both matches have to be played before the end of the first half of the season, which is only two weeks away. No real problems in the other grounds though, with Villarreal B moving up to ninth spot after a 0-1 win at Huesca. Joan Tomás got the only goal from the penalty spot in the twentieth minute after Corona handled in the area, ending the home side's run of four wins in a row in their Alcoraz stadium.
Levante stay a point behind Villarreal B after a 1-0 victory over Real Unión, their first win in six games. Javi Guerra took advantage of an assist by Rubén Suárez to score the winner in the second half. And Las Palmas are level with the Valencia based side after beating Girona 0-2, a result which left the Catalans just one place and two points off the drop zone. Saúl and Rondón got the goals in a two minute period midway through the second half. Elsewhere Cádiz decided to fire coach Javi Gracia after yesterday's defeat, Víctor Esparrago returning for a third spell at the club to replace him. (10.01.10)
Salamanca and Castellón drew 1-1 in a match which was postponed from week 19 due to a heavy snowfall. Kike opened the scoring for the locals early in the second half from Toti's cross, but Dani Pendín headed the equaliser soon afterwards after Ulloa set him up. The visitors ended with eight men after Zamora, Uranga and Palanca were sent off, and Koke also got his marching orders for the home side. The game between Córdoba and Rayo Vallecano has been rescheduled for 3rd February. (20.01.10)
Córdoba and Rayo Vallecano drew 0-0 on Wednesday night in a match which was postponed from early January following a snowstorm in Andalusia. The locals had the better chances, Cobeño having to save from José Vega before the break and from Asen later on, but Piti and Pachón both had chances to win it for the visitors in the final minutes. The draw keeps up both clubs' negative records, Córdoba not having won at home in three months, and Rayo not having recorded a single victory since the start of the new year. (03.02.10)
