Second Division - Day 32
Hércules are in danger of losing their place in the top three after a 0-2 defeat to Huesca in Friday night's match. The Alicante based side have not scored a single goal now in their last six matches, and despite the best efforts of Sendoa they were unable to get past an excellent Toni Doblas. The visitors hardly caused any problems for Calatayud until a quarter of an hour from the end, when Gilvan beat the keeper on a quick counter-attack, and the Brazilian forward ensured an important three points for his side with a second goal in injury time. (09.04.10)
Betis are up to second in the table after thrashing neighbours Cádiz 4-0 on Saturday evening. Emaná opened the scoring ten minutes before the break with a shot from outside of the area, and Caffa made it two three minutes later directly from the corner spot, known as a "gol olimpico" here in Spain. With ten minutes to go Melli headed the third from another corner, and Sergio García completed the scoring soon afterwards to leave Víctor Espárrago's side further down in the drop zone.
Villarreal B are ineligible for promotion, but they are now only three points off the top three after a 2-0 win over Girona. Both goals came after the break, Bordás beating Dani Mallo from a tight angle ten minutes in to the second half and Marco Rubén adding the second a few minutes later to hand the Catalans their first defeat in nine games. Three players were sent off later on, Bordás for the locals and Matamala and Gerard for the visitors.
Elche are just a point behind Villarreal B in the table after a 0-3 victory at Real Unión. The visitors dominated the first half before Martí Crespo opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the area. Eneko Romo and Gorka Brit both had goals ruled out for the locals after the restart, but soon afterwards Usero headed in Fuster's free kick for the second. Willy saved a Romo penalty when Brit was fouled in the area after that, and Juli completed the scoring with ten minutes to go.
Rayo Vallecano moved away from the danger zone after a 3-2 win over Las Palmas, their first victory in six weeks. The Madrid based side went two up early on, Angel beating Pindado to open the scoring and Pachón volleying in the second a few minutes later. Sergio got one back with a free kick on the half hour mark, but Pachón restored the two goal lead after good work by Jofre shortly before the interval. Javi Guerrero got a second for the visitors though with another free kick three minutes after the restart, and the Canary Islanders felt they should have had a point after Francis had a goal disallowed later on.
Albacete stay a point outside of the bottom four pending Sunday's games after a drawing 1-1 with Gimnàstic. David Vidal's side went ahead in only the fourth minute when Stuani picked up Sousa's pass to beat Rubén Pérez, his fourteenth of the season. Jorge headed one back though from Campano's free kick a couple of minutes after the interval, and after that either side could have won it, Fernando Sales hitting the post for the hosts and Mairata and Campano bringing good saves out of Cabrero at the other end. (10.04.10)
Cartagena moved back above Betis to second spot after beating regional neighbours Murcia 3-2 on Sunday lunchtime. Toché headed the home side in to the lead, but Chando equalised soon afterwards, and the visitors could have gone in front when Chando won himself a penalty, Rubén saving Natalio's spot kick (Murcia have failed to covert any of the six penalties they have been awarded this season). Two goals in as many minutes midway through the second half wrapped things up though for Juan Ignacio Martínez's team, De Lucas beating Elía and Toché firing in a second penalty after Signorino was fouled in the area. Pedro got one back a few minutes later, but it was too late to change the result.
Later in the evening Levante kept up their push for promotion with a 2-0 victory over struggling Salamanca, the win taking them level on points with Betis and Hércules. Xisco Muñoz opened the scoring in the first half with a long shot, and Javi Guerra got the second with an even longer shot after the restart. It was a fourth defeat in a row for the visitors, who drop further down in to the relegation zone as a result.
Numancia lost ground on the teams above them though after a 2-1 defeat at Córdoba. The Soria based side found themselves behind with less than a minute on the clock, Asen connecting with a Fuentes cross to beat Eduardo, who had to be replaced by Lafuente after injuring himself in the play. Lago Junior equalised for the visitors before the break, but Ruedo headed in a corner early in the second half to restore the lead, and any hope Numancia had of a comeback was laid to rest after Dimas was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Bottom club Castellón kept their slim hopes of survival alive after a 2-1 win over Celta, a good result for new coach Asier Garitano who took over from his boss "Tintín" Márquez midweek. Rafita opened the scoring with a well struck free kick and Ulloa added the second before the break, but the locals were left with nine men when Mantecón and then Baigorri were sent off either side of half time. However the Galicians were only able to beat Lledó once after that through Michu, and they ended the weekend only four points above the relegation spots. (11.04.10)
Leaders Real Sociedad lost 2-0 to Recreativo in the Monday night game, although they still remain four points clear at the top of the table. The Andalusians had the better of the first half, Zubikarai having to make saves from Alvaro Antón and Iago Bouzón. Guaita did well to keep out Johnatan at the other end after the restart, but soon afterwards Braulio picked up a rebound in the area to open the scoring. That seemed to be it until the final minute, when Zubikarai was sent off for bringing down Braulio in the area, and Jesús Vázquez stepped up to fire home the resulting penalty past makeshift keeper Carlos Martínez. (12.04.10)
