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Second Division - Day 8

Single goal victories on Saturday at Albacete and Numancia took Girona and Valladolid to the top of the second division pending Sunday’s big game between Betis and Las Palmas. Girona won 0-1 at Albacete, Felipe Sanchón getting the only goal midway through the first half after Diego Rivas saved from Sandaza, the referee turning away appeals for offside. However other than another effort by Sanchón just before the break which Rivas kept out, the Catalans hardly had a shot at goal, and visiting keeper Isaac Becerra had to make important saves from César Díaz, Samu and Cidoncha to ensure the three points. A fourth defeat in a row though for the Manchegans, and they find themselves at the bottom of the pack after the rest of the day’s results. Valladolid meanwhile beat regional rivals Numancia 0-1 later in the evening to move just behind Girona on goal difference. The locals had only picked up one point at home all season, but they almost took the lead when Braian Rodríguez headed against the woodwork with keeper Javi Varas beaten in the sixth minute. However Bergdich turned in Mojica’s cross on the half hour mark, and Rubi’s team held on to leave their hosts just above the bottom four on goal difference.

Ponferradina are just two points behind the leaders after they beat neighbours Mirandés by an albeit controversial single goal as well. The incident happened when Berrocal turned in a cross by ex Mirandés captain Pablo Infante with ten minutes to go, the referee at first ruling that the ball had gone out of play before his linesman incorrectly overturned the decision. Before that local keeper Moldovan had to save from Pedro, Rúper and Alex García, and the visitors ended with ten men when Aitor picked up a second booking shortly before the goal. Recreativo are level with Ponfe after they won 0-2 at Tenerife in the last game on Saturday. Joselu gave the Huelva based side the lead in the eleventh minute with a soft shot which Roberto let through after a long clearance by Rubén Gálvez was headed on. The Canary Islanders came back after the break, Carlos Ruíz in particular bringing a good save out of Gálvez, but midway through the second half Pedro Ríos wrapped things up with a low shot past the local keeper.

Alcorcón join the group on 12 points, five behind the leaders, after a 2-0 win over Osasuna. David Rodríguez celebrated his return to the starting line-up turning in Guichón’s cross in the opening minute, and the well-travelled striker made it two when he hooked a long shot over the head of Santamaría a few minutes later. The Pamplona based side had Javi Flaño and De las Cuevas sent off soon after the break though, and they ended the day just a point above the drop zone. Barcelona B are just a point behind Alcorcón after a 0-0 draw at Racing Santander, keeper Ortolá saving the day with first class saves from Koné, Iñaki, Miguélez and Concha. And elsewhere Mallorca beat Alavés 2-0 for their first victory of the season, the result taking them off the bottom of the table to the detriment of Albacete. Both goals came after the restart, Marco Asensio taking advantage of a poor back pass by Toribio to Manu to open the scoring, and then setting up fellow youngster Abdón for the second with twenty minutes to go. The victory gives a temporary reprieve to coach Karpin, who would have been fired had they not won today. (11.10.14)

Girona and Valladolid hold on to the top two spots after Betis and Las Palmas drew 0-0 in their Saturday mid-day game. With both teams more concerned about losing, there were very few chances throughout, the best in the first half falling to the visitors when Matilla turned Angel’s cross against his own crossbar, Adán and Jordi keeping out follow up shots from Nauzet and Aythami. With twenty minutes to go the locals were left with ten men when Perquis picked up a second booking, but Adán kept out Nauzet again soon afterwards, and Araujo had a goal ruled out by the referee near the end for a more than dubious offside. The Canary Islanders drop to fourth as a result, below Sporting Gijón, who beat Leganés 2-1 later in the evening. All the goals came in the last quarter of an hour, the visitors taking the lead when Aguirre beat Cuéllar with his side’s first real shot at goal. A minute later though Guerrero picked up a rebound to equalize, and with the game in the third minute of injury time Santi Jara set up Carlos Castro for the young forward to fire home the winner.

Betis are down to seventh, still a point above Lugo and Zaragoza, who cancelled each other out in an action packed 3-3 draw. Borja Bastón opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the twelfth minute after Borja Gómez brought him down, and although David López levelled the scores with a well struck free kick a few minutes later, Borja restored the lead before the break after Willian José’s free kick came back off the post. David López made it all square again though after Ferreiro put him through with twenty minutes to go, and soon afterwards substitute Luis Fernández put the locals in front just seconds after coming on. Willian José saved a point for the Maños in the end though from another direct free kick with the game already in time added on. Sabadell meanwhile are up to twelfth after a 0-1 victory at neighbours Llagostera, the newly promoted side themselves now just a point above the drop zone after only picking up one point from their last three games. Collantes got the only goal with a cross-come-shot midway through the second half, although the locals will consider themselves unlucky not to save a point after Sergio León hit the woodwork soon after the restart. (12.10.14)