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Second Division - Day 9

The Friday night curtain raiser this week was between Villarreal B and Girona, with the home side saving a point in injury time in a match which ended 2-2. The visitors went ahead with just over half an hour gone, Dorca getting past his marker to beat Diego Mariño, but Jaume Costa tested Santamaría twice before setting up Kiko to head the equaliser just before the break. A minute after the restart the Catalans were left with ten men when Tortolero picked up a second booking, but even so Coro restored the lead with an individualist effort a few minutes later. With the game coming to and end however, Molina pushed Lajeune forward to join the attack, and the central defender came close a couple of times before finally heading a free kick past the keeper to level the scores. (14.10.11)

The first match on Saturday between Deportivo and Gimnàstic appeared to be a home banker, the locals favourites to go up and the visitors languishing in next to bottom spot. However the game ended in a 2-2 draw, the Galicians lucky to save a point in the end thanks to a last minute goal from Aythami. Rubén Pérez pushed a deflected shot from Laure on to the bar before Salomao picked up a pass from Guardado to open the scoring ten minutes before half time. But although Colotto hit the bar soon after the interval, Tuni put Powel through on the hour mark to make it all square. Lassad missed an easy chance minutes later, and Powel silenced the home fans after he combined with substitutes Fernando Morán and Sergio Juste to score his second of the evening with five minutes to go. But with the home fans on their way out, Aythami headed in to the empty net after Colotto had headed over Guardado's free kick to at least keep Oltra's side in the play-off spots pending the rest of the weekend's games.

Later in the day Hércules held on to top spot with a 1-0 victory over Alcoyano. The visitors put up a good fight, and although Maestro had to save from Aganzo early on, both Alvaro and Choco Lozano could have scored for David Porras's side before the break. Less than two minutes after the restart however Michel put the locals in front after Maestro could only push out a cross from Carlos Calvo. And although Tiago was sent off for a second bookable offence with twenty minutes to go, substitute Adrián Sardinero came close to increasing the lead later on.

Sabadell stay level with Hércules at the top of the rankings though after a 1-0 win over Alcorcón. Aarón Bueno scored what was to prove the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Rueda handled in the area in the tenth minute, and before half time Florian and Héctor Simón both tested Manu. But with a minute to go to the break Olmo was sent off for a second bookable offence, and De Navas had to be at his best in the second half to keep out Quini, Montañés and company to ensure the three points for his side.

The two leaders have opened up a four point gap over the rest after the teams below them all failed to win. Third placed Almería were beaten 1-0 by Numancia, a first defeat of the season for Lucas Alcaráz's side. The turning point of the game came five minutes before half time, when Marcelo Silva was sent off for bringing down Nagore inside the penalty area, Nagore himself converting the resulting penalty. After that Esteban had to make important saves from Bedoya and Julio Alvarez to prevent the scoreline from increasing, and any hopes Almería had of a comeback ended with a quarter of an hour to go when Bernadello was also sent off for a second bookable offence.

Córdoba are level with Almería after drawing 0-0 at bottom club Cartagena. The locals were still looking for their first win of the season, and Collantes and Dimas put Alberto García to the test early on. Charles hit the post at the other end, but after the restart the visiting keeper was in action again to save from Toni Moral and Collantes. Javi López's side kept up the pressure after that, but the Andalusians could have sneaked a win had López Silva been able to beat Reina in a late counter-attack.

Valladolid stay two points behind Córdoba after they drew 1-1 at Recreativo, although they were grateful for the point in the end after playing for over an hour with ten men. Djukic's side were looking good early on, with local keeper Manu the busiest man on the park. But on the half hour mark Tekio was sent off after giving away a penalty on Juan Villar, Pablo Sánchez stepping up to convert the spot kick. Recre couldn't take advantage after that though, and with twelve minutes to go Jesús Rueda got on the end of Sisi's corner to head the equaliser and keep up Valladolid's unbeaten away record.

A little later in the day Las Palmas and Elche cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, a result which left the Canary Islanders a point away from the play-off spots, and the visitors a point behind them in the table. Honours were shared in the first half, but seven minutes after the break the home side took the lead, Vitolo picking up a pass from Sergio Suárez before lobbing keeper Juan Carlos. Angel had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside soon afterwards, but with twenty minutes to go the striker beat Barbosa with a low shot to level the scores.

It was another day for draws though, and Huesca and Murcia also shared the points in a game which finished 2-2. Both teams have been struggling this season, but the locals went two up within twenty minutes, Camacho converting a penalty after Jorge fouled Tariq in the area, and Luis Helguera heading in a Gilvan corner soon afterwards. Emilio got one back though on the half hour mark with a well struck free kick, and early in the second half the forward beat Bernardo with a shot from outside of the area to keep his side three points above their hosts in the table. (15.10.11)

Only two games left for Sunday evening, with Guadalajara moving up to fifth in the table after a 1-2 victory at Barcelona B. The visitors took the lead against the run of play ten minutes before the break, Anibal leaving Armando for dead before chipping the ball over Oier. Sergi Roberto equalised midway through the second half, knocking in the rebound after Saizar struggled to clear a low Rafinha free kick. A few minutes later Roberto had a chance to put the locals ahead when Antonio Moreno gave away a penalty, but although he drilled home a first spot kick, the referee ordered a retake for encroachment. This time the keeper saved the kick, and although Roberto hit the post again soon afterwards, Javi Soria headed an injury time winner for the away side from a long Ernesto free kick. It was another blow for Eusebio, and his team stay in the relegation spots having only picked up one point at home all season.

Xerez and Celta were both looking to join Guadalajara in the play-off spots later in the evening, but in the end neither of them made after their game ended 3-3. David Rodríguez latched on to a loose ball to put the Galicians in front early on, but midway through the first half Lombán made it all square after José Marí headed on a corner. Visiting defender Oier put through his own net twice either side of half time with a little help from Israel and then Bruno, and it looked as if the Andalusians were heading for victory until Iago Aspas narrowed the gap with six minutes to go. And with the game already in the second minute of injury time Català picked up an assist from De Lucas to score his side's third, keeping them just a point behind Xerez in the table. (16.10.11)