Second Division - Day 34
Gimnàstic appear to be safe again for another season after a 2-3 victory at Rayo Vallecano in this week's Friday night game. Rayo had been recovering recently after dropping down the table, and Susaeta gave them the lead with a direct free kick early on. But Fernando Morán equalised a few minutes later, and after Pelegrin was sent off for a foul on Morán, Campano put the Catalans ahead with another well struck free kick. The locals were left with nine men when Ángel picked up a second booking twelve minutes in to the second half, and José Marí headed a third for the visitors with twenty minutes to go. Movilla got another one back though five minutes later, and the result was in doubt right up to the final whistle. (23.04.10)
Elche are the latest side to join the promotion race, and they ended Saturday evening in third spot after a surprising 0-3 victory at Betis. The game swung heavily in their favour on the quarter hour mark when Carlos García was sent off for bringing down second division top scorer Jorge Molina in the area, the striker converting the resulting penalty. And Juli and Molina added two more either side of half time to take their team a point above their opponents. Villarreal B are level on points with Betis after a 1-0 win over Celta, and although the youngsters cannot go up, they are at least sure of staying at this level. Paco Herrera's side were at a disadvantage from the fifth minute when Catalá was sent off, but they held on for most of the game, and won it in the end with a late goal from Jefferson Montero.
Murcia's brief recovery has been cut short in the last two weeks, and they find themselves further down in the drop zone after a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Real Unión. Quero opened the scoring for the Basque side midway through the first half, and Gorka Brit added a second right at the end to take his team to within four points of their opponents. Bottom club Castellón also won 2-0 against Las Palmas, who had Pignol and Lamas both sent off before half time. Ulloa fired a penalty against the post before finally opening the scoring on the stroke of half time, and Guzmán wrapped things up with ten minutes to go. The Canary Islanders are only three points above the relegation spots, still two above Albacete though after David Vidal's side drew 0-0 at home to Huesca. Neither keeper was particularly troubled until two minutes from the end ,when Alba's Cabrero pulled off the save of the evening from José. (24.04.10)
Cartagena and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 on Sunday lunchtime, a result which kept the Basque side five points clear at the top of the table and took the locals back in to the top three. Aranburu put the visitors ahead with a shot in off the post in only the fourth minute, but Chus Herrero equalised following a corner a quarter of an hour later. Five minutes after the restart Real were left with ten men when Aranburu picked up a second booking, but they held on for a draw which gives them the head-to-head advantage against one of their main rivals for promotion.
Hércules are back to winning ways at last, and they move up to second in the table after beating Salamanca 4-0 later on Sunday evening. Tote headed the first following a corner with just under half an hour gone, but the turning point came with twenty minutes to go when referee Lesma López sent off Goikoetxea for giving away a penalty on Delibasic. Salva Sevilla and Rossato were also sent off for protesting, leaving the visitors with eight men before Farinós drilled home the spot kick. After that Cuéllar put through his own net, and Kiko wrapped things up with a fourth goal later on. Hércules are now a point above Levante, who saw their run of three wins a row cut short by a 2-1 defeat at Córdoba. Asen got the first for the Andalusians from Arteaga's free kick shortly before half time, and Carpintero made it two on a quick breakaway with twelve minutes to go. Javi Guerra headed one back though to set up an exciting finish.
Numancia are now only four points behind Levante after a 1-3 victory at Recreativo. Barkero opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute with a shot from outside of the area, and although Barber equalised following a corner later in the first half, Barkero scored his second of the evening only three minutes later. And with a quarter of an hour to go Del Pino headed in Jaio's cross to give the Soria based side their first ever win in Huelva. Further down the table Cádiz moved to within a point of salvation after a 2-0 win over a depleted Girona. Enrique opened the scoring for the Andalusians in the ninth minute, and Toedtli added the second later on after intercepting a bad pass from Moha before beating Jorquera. The Catalans stay in twelfth spot, although they are still only six points above their opponents in the table. (25.04.10)
