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Second Division - Day 9

Xerez returned to the play-off spots after a 3-1 win over Villarreal B on Friday evening. The visitors took the lead in the first minute when Nicky Bille cut in from the wing and fired in a shot which deflected in to the net off Lombán. But just three minutes later José Marí equalised after picking up a pass from Pablo Redondo, and Redondo himself scored the second directly from an inswinging corner later on in the second half. And with a few minutes to go Lombán wrapped things up to hand Villarreal B a fourth defeat out of four in the Friday night games. (22.10.10)

Neither Rayo Vallecano nor Celta were able to win on Saturday evening, and the door is now open for Betis to move to the top of the table when they play Salamanca on Sunday. Rayo Vallecano were held to a 0-0 draw by Recreativo in the first match on Saturday evening, a good result for caretaker coaches Juan Merino and Carlos Ríos who took over from their ex-boss Pablo Alfaro earlier in the week. The Andalusians have not won a match all season, but they could have come away with the three points had Cobeño not made good saves from Jesús Vázquez, Juan Villar and Acuña throughout the match.

Celta themselves could only draw 1-1 with Granada later in the evening, and although the result keeps them above Rayo at the top of the table, their fans were expecting more from this match. Both goals came after the break, Iago Aspas opening the scoring for the Galicians with an impressive shot from wide on the right which curled past keeper Roberto. Geijo equalised six minutes later though after picking up a pass from Abel Gómez, and Roberto made the save of the night from Michu near the end to ensure a point for the Andalusians.

Las Palmas moved up to fifth in the table after a 2-1 victory over Albacete in the last match on Saturday. The Canary Islanders had not won in four games, but they went ahead on the stroke of half time when Pedro Vega picked up a Javi Guerrero pass to fire an angled shot past Keylor Navas. Guayre got the second twenty minutes in to the second half with a shot under the keeper, and Asen pulled one back for the visitors with five minutes to go from a kike Tortosa cross.

Barcelona Athletic drop below Las Palmas to sixth though after losing 0-1 to Huesca, the first points they have dropped in their Mini-Estadi all season. Gilvan and Soriano both had efforts cleared off the line at either end early on, and Camacho and Nolito both had efforts blocked after the restart. The only goal though came with just over a quarter of an hour to go when Gilvan went past his marker to shoot low past Rubén Miño.

Valladolid also drop down the table to seventh spot after a 2-0 defeat at Girona. The visitors had the better chances in the first half, with Santamaría in particular saving from Javi Guerra. But ten minutes after the restart the locals were awarded a hotly-disputed penalty which Jandro converted, and a quarter of an hour to go Jandro put Despotovic through for him to make it two and give his side a first win in six games. To add to their woes, Valladolid had Nauzet sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence.

Alcorcón's good start to the season took a set-back when they were beaten 1-0 by Cartagena. The locals had gone five matches without a victory, but they took an early lead when Víctor picked up an assist from Txiki to beat Manu Herrera. Toché, Longas and Toni Moral could all have added to the scoreline after that, but in the end it took two or three good saves from keeper Casilla to hold on to the three points.

Elche are now level with Alcorcón in the table after a 2-0 victory over Ponferradina. The visitors wasted several chances early on, but Wakoso beat Mackay with a long shot twenty minutes from the end to put the home side ahead. Five minutes later Cuadrado got himself sent off for the visitors for a second bookable offence, and Ángel wrapped things up when he got on the end of a Linares pass with ten minutes to go. The locals also ended with ten men after Vasco Fernandes was sent off in the last minute.

Ponferradina stay down in the bottom four, now three points ahead of Tenerife after the Canary Islanders picked up their third point of the season in a 2-2 draw at Córdoba. Luque opened the scoring for the locals from the penalty spot five minutes after the restart, and Charles added a second with a spectacular overhead kick. But mikel Alonso got on the end of Kome's cross to pull one back, and Natalio levelled the scores for Juan Carlos Mandiá's side with five minutes to go. (23.10.10)

Betis are two points clear at the top of the second division after a 0-3 victory over fifth placed Salamanca on Sunday lunchtime. The Andalusians scored two goals in as many minutes midway through the first half, Rubén Castro and Emaná taking advantage of the fact that the hosts were temporarily down to ten men when Héctor Yuste was being treated for an injury on the touchline. And Emaná wrapped things up with his second of the game near the end. The game was overshadowed though when local midfielder Miguel García collapsed on the pitch in the second half, reportedly after suffering a cardiac arrest, and only a quick reaction from the team doctors saved his life. The player is currently under observation in hospital.

Later in the day Numancia beat Gimnàstic 1-0 to move clear of the drop zone. A win for the visitors would have taken them level with their opponents in the table, but for the fifth time this season they lost by a single goal. There were few chances for either side though before Dani López crossed in following a set-piece corner to allow Ibrahima to head the winner with ten minutes to go. (24.10.10)