Second Division - Day 25
Regional neighbours Elche and Levante drew 0-0 in this week's Friday night match. The locals had the better chances, in particular Saúl hitting the bar after the break and Trejo unable to beat Manu Herrera late on when free in front of the keeper. Ripa also had a shot cleared off the line in the first minute, and at the other end new signing Rafa Jordà was unable to keep up his record of scoring in every match after he had a goal disallowed before the interval. Elche have not won in their Martínez Valero stadium since late November though, and they stay five points behind their opponents in the table. (19.02.10)
Levante stay in fourth spot, still four points behind Cartagena, who could only draw 2-2 at bottom club Castellón on Saturday. The newly promoted side were thankful to come away with a point though after the hosts went two up with strikes from Ulloa and Mantecón in a two minute period midway through the first half, the first from a Xisco Campos cross and the second after Rubén saved from Palanca. Txiki got one back though following a corner just before the interval, and De Lucas netted the equaliser with an individualist effort a quarter of an hour from the end.
It was draws all round though on Saturday, with Villarreal B staying in sixth place after their game with Recreativo ended 1-1. Barber beat Vicente on the stroke of half time to open the scoring for the visitors, but an injury time Joan Tomás penalty after Raúl Cámara handled the ball saved a point for the home side. Betis are a point behind Villarreal B after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Albacete. The Andalusians had a chance to go ahead in the first half when Kike handled in the area, but Cabrero saved Sergio García's penalty kick. Kike and Arzu were both sent off after the restart, and the frustrated fans booed off their players at the end. (20.02.10)
Hércules moved a point clear at the top of the table after drawing 2-2 at Cádiz on Sunday lunchtime. The locals took the lead in only the second minute, Cristian beating everyone with a centre-come-shot. Tote and Delibasic combined to set up Tiago Gomes for the equaliser, but midway through the first half López Silva restored the lead on a rapid counter-attack, and Toedtli missed a couple of chances to add to the scoreline soon after the restart. Delibasic squared things once again though with twenty minutes to go, and both sides ended with ten men after Tiago and Alvaro Silva both picked up second yellow cards near the end.
Later in the day Real Sociedad failed to take advantage of Hércules's slip after losing 1-0 to struggling Girona. The only goal came from the penalty spot after Ansotegui fouled Calle at the mid-point of the first half, the striker converting the spot kick himself. Real came close to equalising after the break, Jorquera pushing a shot from Carlos González on to the bar and De la Bella having a strike ruled out for a borderline offside late on, but the Catalans held on for their first home win in two months. Fifth placed Numancia also lost 1-0 at Murcia, who are now only two points away from escaping the drop zone. Chando hit the post before scoring what was to prove the only goal after Natalio set him up in the twelfth minute, and the sending off of Albiol in injury time didn't change the result.
It was a strange weekend though, with none of the top twelve sides able to win. Gimnàstic were beaten 0-1 at home by Huesca, who move to within a place of the Catalans in the table. José Vegar got the only goal following a corner ten minutes in to the second half, and Nàstic had Miguel Angel sent off soon afterwards for a high tackle on Sastre. Rayo Vallecano drop further down the table after a 2-1 defeat at next to bottom club Real Unión, a bad start for technical director Felipe Miñambres, who took over as coach this week after Pepe Mel was sacked. Descarga headed the Basque side in to the lead from a corner shortly before half time, and although Albacar equalised with a well struck free kick with ten minutes to go, Eneko Romo scrambled home the winner in injury time.
Córdoba were also beaten 1-0 by a Celta side who move three points clear of the relegation spots. Youth international Joselu got on the end of Vasco's cross to score the goal four minutes before the interval, giving Eusebio's team their first home win since the start of the new year. The Galicians are now level with Las Palmas, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Salamanca in the last match of the weekend. The visitors took the lead through Toti on the quarter hour mark, and when Salva Sevilla added a second with fifteen minutes left on the clock it seemed all over. But Javi Guerrero got one back with four minutes to go, and in the second minute of injury time Sergio Suárez headed in the equaliser. (21.02.10)
Levante stay in fourth spot, still four points behind Cartagena, who could only draw 2-2 at bottom club Castellón on Saturday. The newly promoted side were thankful to come away with a point though after the hosts went two up with strikes from Ulloa and Mantecón in a two minute period midway through the first half, the first from a Xisco Campos cross and the second after Rubén saved from Palanca. Txiki got one back though following a corner just before the interval, and De Lucas netted the equaliser with an individualist effort a quarter of an hour from the end.
