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Second Division - Day 4

Villarreal moved to the top of the table pending Elche's game on Sunday after beating Ponferradina 0-1 on Saturday evening. For the second time this season it was Walter Pandiani who gave them the victory, the veteran striker coming on to head in Joan Oriol's cross with twenty minutes to go. The visitors had dominated the first half, with Oriol hitting the bar and Cavenaghi going close, but after the restart Iván Moreno and Carlos Ruíz both rattled the woodwork for the hosts, and Juan Carlos pulled off the save of the evening near the end to ensure the three points. Villarreal move above Almería, who dropped their first points of the season in a 3-0 defeat at Sabadell. The Catalans went in front midway through the first half, Anibal Zurdo heading in Lanzarote's cross for his side's first goal of the season. The ex-Guadalajara striker scored two more either side of half time to complete his hat-trick, the first from a Lanzarote free kick and the second after Esteban failed to hold on to Hidalgo's shot, and after that there was no way back for Xavi Gracia's team.

Almería stay in third spot however after the clubs below them Girona and Murcia both lost. Girona were beaten 2-1 by Hércules, who picked up a much needed three points after losing their first three games.Braulio picked up a Fran Mérida assist to open the scoring early on, and then set up Gilvan for the second later in the first half. Felipe Sanchón got one back though on a quick counter attack just before the break, and although Braulio hit the bar after the restart, it was a close thing in the end. Murcia meanwhile lost 3-2 at Recreativo, who move level with their opponents in the table as a result of the victory. Sergi Barjuán gave a first start to Chuli, and the youngster answered with two goals before the break as the Andalusians over-ran their opponents. Matilla got one back from the penalty spot early in the second half though after Dimas brought him down, and Cristian García missed a good chance to equalise. Twenty minutes later however Jesús Rubio restored the two goal lead with a second penalty after Oscar Sánchez was sent off for a foul on Chuli, and although Cristian narrowed the gap again near the end, it came too late to change the result.

Alcorcón are also on seven points after they won 1-3 at Las Palmas. The Madrid based side had always lost in Gran Canaria, but although Barbosa saved a first minute Mora penalty, Oriol Riera got on the end of a Fernando Sales pass to put the visitors ahead some ten minutes later. Midway through the second half Riera got his second of the evening, and although Momo shortened the gap on the stroke of half time, Riera made it three just a few minutes after the restart. Numancia drop a point behind Alcorcón and the rest after they were held to a 0-0 draw at an improving Mirandés. Goitia pushed an effort from Del Pino on to the post and Cedric missed another good chance for the visitors before the interval, and after the restart Alain, Mujika and Goiria all went close for the locals. In the end though both coaches settled for a point.

The two B sides are level with Numancia on six points after both won their respective matches. Barcelona B beat Guadalajara 0-1, even though they played the last quarter of the match with ten men after Sergi Gómez was sent off for a foul on Kepa. Up to that point both teams had had their chances, but Luis Alberto won it for Eusebio's side after connecting with Lobato's cross. Later in the evening Real Madrid Castilla matched their rivals with a 3-2 win over Xerez. Iñigo Vélez beat Jesús in the twentieth minute to give the Andalusians the lead, but Morata equalised soon afterwards with an angled shot, and Borja García got on the end of Mosquera's free kick to turn the scoreline around. Eight minutes after the restart Jesé took advantage of a hesitant defence to make it three, and José Marí completed the scoring for the visitors with the game already in injury time. (08.09.12)

Elche are now two points clear at the top of the second division after a 0-1 victory at Córdoba on Sunday lunchtime. Carles Gil got what was to prove the only goal in the eighth minute with an acrobatic shot after Alberto could only push out an effort from Coro, and after that Fran Escribá's side held on for their fourth win in a row. Córdoba drop in to the bottom half of the table after their first defeat in eleven months in their Nuevo Arcángel stadium.

Racing Santander and Sporting Gijón are both off to a terrible start this season, and they remain in the relegation zone after they were held to draws in their respective matches on Sunday evening. Racing Santander could only draw 1-1 at Huesca, who themselves were looking for points to move away from the danger area. Bouazza headed against the bar before another new signing Kaludjerovic nipped in between Lazaro and Luis García to put the Cantabrians ahead on the half hour mark. But just a minute in to the second half Nacho Novo picked up a rebound to equalise, and although both teams had chances after that, the scoreline remained unmoved. The point at least takes Racing off the bottom of the table above Guadalajara, and they stay level with Sporting Gijón, who drew 1-1 with Lugo. Last season there were two divisions between the two clubs, but the visitors could have gone ahead when Tonetto went close in only the second minute. With ten minutes to go to the break David Rodríguez opened the scoring for the Asturians after Trejo laid back a Muñiz cross, but shortly before half time Oscar Díaz made it all square with a well struck free kick, and that was how it stayed. (09.09.12)