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Second Division - Day 4

Las Palmas moved to the top of the table pending Sunday’s games after a 1-2 win over Racing Santander on Saturday evening. The Cantabrians went ahead on the half hour mark when Miguélez beat Lizoain after Mariano intercepted a bad clearance. However with twenty minutes to go Javi Soria got himself sent off for a hard tackle on David Simón, and soon afterwards Araujo levelled the scores with his fifth of season after Nauzet put him through. And with three minutes to go Angel got the winner after Nauzet headed over a long cross to leave the locals without a single point from their first four games. Ponferradina are now second after they beat Numancia 1-3 in the first match of the weekend. Berrocal opened the scoring for the visitors on the quarter hour mark after Aguilar’s shot was blocked, but Natalio made it all square shortly before half time after controlling a long cross from the right before beating Moldovan. Andy restored the lead however soon after the interval, latching on to Juanma’s clearance to fire a first time shot across Biel Ribas, and with the game in injury time Sobrino ran through from midfield to wrap things up.

Barcelona B finished third last season, and they occupy that spot once again after a 2-3 victory over Alavés. Eusebio’s side went three up by the break, Joan Román getting the first with a shot in to the top corner of the net after a good run by Adama. With just over half an hour gone Manu García turned Adama’s cross in to his own net, and six minutes later Grimaldo got the third with a well struck free kick. That appeared to have sentenced the match, but with twenty minutes to go Toti got on the end of a cross from the right to fire one back, and five minutes after that Juli made it two with an angled shot after Ortolá could only punch a long centre in to his path. Alavés threw everything forward, and with three minutes left on the clock they were awarded a penalty when Robert Costas fouled Ion Vélez in the area. Juli struck the resulting spot kick over the bar however, and the youngsters held on for their third win in a row.

Recreativo are just a point behind Barça B after they beat struggling Mallorca 1-2. José Luis Oltra was returning to the ground where he was controversially sacked last season, and he saw his new team go ahead early on when Montoro beat Cabrero with an impressive shot. The islanders improved after the break though, Fofo and Marco Asensio going close before Martí and Arana combined for Scepovic to equalize. However with six minutes to go Cabrero got himself sent off for bringing down Manu Molina, and with outfielder Martí having to go in goal, Jesús Vázquez drilled home the resulting penalty to leave Karpin side down in the relegation zone. Elsewhere Llagostera and Osasuna drew 0-0, a result which left both sides in mid-table. The better chances came after the interval, but keepers Riesgo and René made important saves, in particular from Juanjo and Merino, to keep the scoreline unmoved. (13.09.14)

Girona stay joint top of the table together with Las Palmas after a last minute 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijón on Sunday lunchtime. The Catalans started the day two points above their hosts in the table having won all three of their opening games, and they had a chance to go ahead early on when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Carmona on Juncà. However Felipe Sanchón fired his spot kick wide, and with half time approaching Sergio Alvarez opened the scoring for the Asturians after Bernardo and then Pablo Pérez played on a corner. A win would have taken Abelardo’s side in to the direct promotion spots, but in the third minute of injury time Juncà made it all square after Sandaza headed on a Cifuentes cross.

Valladolid are up to fifth after they won 0-1 at Alcorcón in the last match of the weekend. The Madrid based side have yet to win at home, and after Oscar Plano and Bobley Anderson wasted good chances, Roger ran on to an Oscar González through ball to score what was to prove the only goal of the game. Betis though lost for the second time in a row, a 0-1 defeat against Albacete on Sunday evening leaving them out of the play-off spots. Perquis brought a good save out of Alberto, and Rubén Castro shot just wide shortly before the break, but midway through the second half Chumbi got on the end of Antoñito’s cross to head home the winner. It was Albacete’s first victory since winning back promotion, and a disappointed crowd of over 30,000 whistled off their own players at the end.

Zaragoza are struggling once again as well, and for the second home game in a row they were held to a 1-1 draw in the dying minutes. Knocked out of the cup by Albacete midweek, Víctor Muñoz’s side needed a result against Sabadell, and Borja Bastón headed them in to the lead from Javi Alamo’s cross with four minutes to go to the break. The visitors were left with ten men when youngster Yeray picked up a second booking a couple of minutes later, but with two minutes to go Juanto turned ina Kiko Olivas headed pass following a corner to give the Catalans their first point of the season.

Curiously there was only one home win this weekend, Tenerife beating Mirandés 1-0 to record their first victory of the new campaign. Aitor Sanz set up Guarrotxena for the only goal in the fifth minute, but after that there was little for either side to shout about. Elsewhere Lugo and Leganés drew 0-0, a result which left the two teams in mid-table on five points. Keepers José Juan and Queco Pina both had saves to make before the break, but after Alberto Martín was sent off with half an hour to go the visitors shut up shop. (14.09.14)