Second Division - Day 27
Salamanca clocked up their first win in eleven games after beating Gimnàstic 1-2 in this week's Friday night game. Toti got both goals for the visitors on quick breakaways in the first half, and they could have added to their lead before Morán headed one back from Redondo's free kick after the restart. The defeat cost the job of Nàstic coach César Ferrando, who was replaced by Luis César Sampedro a few hours after the final whistle. Luis César was the man who took the Catalans up to the first division three seasons ago. (05.03.10)
Cartagena made sure of another week at least in third spot after a 0-0 draw at Villarreal B on Saturday evening. Both sides had their chances, Jefferson Montero and De Lucas unable to beat keepers Rubén and Juan Carlos when free on goal before the break, and Matilla and De Lucas both failing to convert good opportunities after the restart. The locals stay six points behind their opponents in seventh spot, although they have not won once since Paco Herrera took over from Juan Carlos Garrido four games ago.
The remaining matches on Saturday mainly involved teams down in the lower part of the table, with bottom two Castellón and Real Unión doing themselves no favours after drawing 1-1. Gorka Brit put the Basque side ahead with just under an hour on the clock, but Ulloa equalised for the locals from the penalty spot with ten minutes to go after Guerra was fouled in the area. Celta are now only a point above the bottom four pending Sunday's games after they too drew 1-1 with Recreativo. Trashorras opened the scoring after a quick passing move with Cellerino early in the second half, and the Galicians wasted a couple of chances to extend the lead after that. Both sides were left with ten men when Papadopoulos and Troest were sent off, and with the game coming to an end Javi Fuego picked up an assist from Jesús Vázquez to save a point for the visitors.
Girona kept up their good recent form, and they moved three points clear of Celta after beating Huesca 2-0. Tortolero had a goal disallowed for a non-existent offside, and then hit the crossbar before the break, but a few minutes in to the second half Calle headed in Moha's cross to put the locals in front. And a few minutes later Moha scored the second himself to extend the unbeaten run to four games. Las Palmas also moved away from the danger zone after a 1-0 victory over Córdoba, their first home win in four months. Both sides had goals disallowed before, the break, and Pepe Díaz hit the bar for the visitors soon after the restart. But Javi Guerrero headed home the winner from Beranger's corner a few minutes after that to take his side within two points of their opponents. (06.03.10)
A set back for leaders Hércules, a 2-0 defeat at neighbours Elche opened up the door for Real Sociedad to catch them in the table. Some 7,000 travelling fans swelled the crowd to a record 18,000 for the Sunday lunchtime kick-off, and they saw the hosts take the lead on the quarter hour mark when Usero got on the end of Saúl's cross to beat Calatayud. And before the half time whistle Juli set up second division top scorer Molina for the second, giving Pepe Bordalás's team their first home win since mid-November.
Real Sociedad didn't fail later in the evening, beating promotion rivals Numancia 2-1 to move level with Hércules at the top. Griemann swept in a Carlos Martínez cross to open the scoring with half an hour gone, and although Goiria headed the equaliser from a corner before the break, De la Bella forced a shot past Eduardo a few minutes after the restart to open up an eleven point gap on their opponents. Betis confirmed their return to form as well, and a 3-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano took them back to fourth, just three points behind Cartagena. Jonathan Pereira and Emaná put the Andalusians two up from Sergio García assists within the first twenty minutes, and Pereira got his second of the evening soon after the interval. Piti scored a late consolation for the visitors from the penalty spot after Pachón was fouled in injury time.
Betis are now three points above Levante, who could only draw 1-1 at Murcia. The Valencia based side took the lead through Javi Guerra against the run of play just three minutes in to the second half. But Kike latched on to a pass from Mario Rosas with five minutes to go to level the scores and keep the locals just a point above the drop zone. Albacete stay in the bottom four though after they lost 4-3 to Cádiz. Even though Toedtli gave the locals an early lead, it appeared that the Manchegans were on track for a win after Fernando Sales, Hidalgo and Callejón all scored in the first quarter of an hour of the second half. But after Tarantino was sent off, strikes from Diego Tristán and Enrique made it all square again. And Fragoso fired home the winner with two minutes to go to take his team to within a point of their rivals in the table. (07.03.10)
