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Second Division - Day 40

Second placed Celta closed to within four points of Deportivo pending their game on Sunday after a 4-0 win over Alcoyano on Saturday evening. Alex Lopez knocked in a rebound to open the scoring for the Galicians in the first minute, and Iago Aspas added a second later on in the first half, his twentieth of the season. Sergio wasn't troubled in the local goal until Gato tested him with twenty minutes to go, and a couple of minutes later Alex López got his second of the day. Five minutes after that Orellana completed the scoring after Joan Tomás sent off, and the visitors (who drop further down in to the relegation zone) ended the game with ten men after Pina picked up a second booking.

Alcorcón were beaten 2-0 by Almería though, and they are now twelve points below Celta in the table. The man who did the damage was B team forward Jonathan Zongo, who was given a run out by Esteban Vigo with twenty minute to go. The youngster from Burkino Faso took his chance, beating Manu two times in the last quarter of an hour to keep his side within three points of the play-off spots. Alcorcón stay in fourth spot however after the team below them Hércules were beaten 2-0 by Las Palmas. Although mathematically safe, the Canary Islanders needed a win to restore the confidence of their fans, and Sergio Suárez put them ahead in the seventh minute. The visitors were left with ten men whem Tiago Gomés picked up a second booking midway through the second half, and after Javi Guerrero netted the second, Aganzo was also given his marching orders in injury time for insulting the referee.

Sixth placed Córdoba were unable to take advantage of the defeats of the teams above them, and they are now only three points above Almería after losing 3-1 at Girona. Within seven minutes the Catalans were already two up thanks to strikes from Dani Nieto and Coro. And although Pepe Díaz got one back from the penalty spot with a quarter of an hour to go, Jandro wrapped things up in the last minute. Elche also threw away their last chance to close in on the top six after they were beaten 2-3 by Guadalajara. César Ferrando's team got off to the best possible start when Angel opened the scoring in the first minute. But half an hour later things had gone pear-shape, a Rodri penalty, a header from Javi Soria and a Héctor Rodas own goal turning the scoreline around. And although Angel got his second of the evening with twenty minutes to go, there was no way back.

The wins for Girona and Guadalajara meant that bottom club Gimnàstic are relegated, and Cartagena are only a step away from going down after they lost 1-0 at Huesca. Mario Rosas got the only goal for the Aragón based side after Nuñez set him up shortly before half time, and five minutes later the visitors were left with ten men when Josemi was shown a second yellow card. Villarreal B will also be playing in the second division B next season thanks to the relegation of their first team, but they are putting up a spirited fight, a 2-0 victory over Recreativo taking them up to eleventh in the table. Lejeune and Moi Gómez scored the goals in a two minute period in the middle of the second half to make it three wins in a row for the youngsters. (19.05.12)

With three games to go Deportivo La Coruña are still not sure of going up, and their two nearest rivals closed to within four points of them after the Galicians lost 3-2 to Xerez on Sunday evening. With only two minutes gone Maldonado got on the end of Israel's cross to open the scoring for the locals. But seven minutes later Lassad headed the equaliser, and early in the second half the Tunisian striker got his second of the day with a clever back-heel. The Andalusians didn't give up though, Mendoza equalising soon afterwards with a shot from outside of the area, and with ten minutes left to go, Maldonado got the winner after another assist from Israel.

Valladolid stay just behind Celta on goal difference after beating Sabadell 2-0 later in the evening. The visitors sat back to defend right from the start, Mackay having to save from Alberto Bueno and Javi Guerra before Peña headed the opener after Sisi crossed in from the wing. After the restart Bueno hit the post, and Sabadell were left a man short when Héctor Simon was shown a second yellow card. But the Catalans came close a couple of times on quick breakaways, and the result was in doubt until Nauzet ran on to lob the visiting keeper in the third minute of injury time.

Numancia moved up to eighth in the table after a 3-0 win over Barcelona B, although with a ten point gap between them and sixth placed Córdoba they have no chance now of reaching the play-off spots. The Soria based side had not won at home since the end of March, but by half time Cedric and Julio Alvarez had given them a two goal lead. And Juanjo completed the scoring midway through the second half to take his side a point above their opponents in the table. Elsewhere Murcia and Gimnàstic drew 2-2 in a match in which neither side had anything to play for. Saturday's results meant Nàstic were already unable to avoid relegation, but they did take the lead when Ortíz converted a penalty early in the second half. The locals turned the scoreline around with strikes from Cristian García and Borja a few minutes later, and Peragón saved a sterile point for the visitors with quarter of an hour left on the clock. (20.05.12)