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Second Division - Day 9

Girona are now two points clear at the top of the second division after a 0-2 victory at neighbours Sabadell on Saturday evening. Tamudo missed an early chance for the locals, but a few minutes later Pere Pons set up Felipe Sanchón to open the scoring. With half an hour on the clock Sanchón got his second of the evening after Nauzet saved from Mata and Granell, but Isaac had to make a couple of important saves after that, and Tamudo had a strike ruled out for offside in the second half when he knocked in the rebound after Juanto’s shot came back off the post. Last week’s joint leaders Valladolid lose ground on the Catalans after they were held to a 0-0 draw by regional rivals Ponferradina earlier in the afternoon. With first choice striker Roger out for several months, his replacement Oscar Díaz missed a couple of good chances either side of half time. However in the end local keeper Javi Varas had to make an important save from Sobrino to ensure a point which keeps Rubi’s side two points above their opponents in the table.

Zaragoza are level on points with Ponfe though after a last minute 2-1 victory over Racing Santander. Borja Bastón opened the scoring for the locals in the fourth minute, the first goal that the Cantabrians had let in for four games, but later in the first half Koné took advantage of a mistake by Rubén to make it all square. The game appeared to be heading for a draw though until the second minute of injury time, when substitute Jaime Romero combined with Borja to beat Raúl for a second time. Another of the promotion favourites Osasuna seem to be back on track as well after they beat Tenerife 3-2, again the winner coming in time added on. The Canary Islanders had not picked up a single point away from home this season, but they went in front when Aitor Sanz headed in a corner with ten minutes to go to the break. Nekounam equalized from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time after Javi Moyano fouled the Iranian midfielder, but after Ansafardi had a strike incorrectly ruled out, Vitolo restored the lead with a second spot kick when David García brought down Raúl Cámara in the area. A couple of minutes later however youngster Kenan Kodro set up Nino to level the scores once again, and with the game coming to an end the son of the famous Real Sociedad striker volleyed the winner past Roberto.

Alavés meanwhile followed up their midweek cup victory with a 1-0 win over Lugo, a result which takes them to within a point of their opponents in the table. Once again the scorer was Manu Barreiro, who connected with Toti’s centre to beat replacement keeper José Juan with ten minutes to go. Lolo Plà almost saved a point for the visitors though when he hit the bar a few minutes later. Alavés’s opponents in the cup were Mirandés, and they bounced back with a 3-2 win over bottom club Albacete, themselves victors in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. Portu put the visitors in front twice in the opening twenty minutes, the first following a good team move, and after Urko Vera headed the equalizer, the second with a header from a Pol Bueso cross. Kijera levelled the scores again though with a low free kick soon after the restart, and with the final whistle approaching Alex García beat Diego Rivas again to give his side three vital points against a direct relegation rival. (18.10.14)

Sporting Gijón missed out on a chance to move up to second after a 1-1 draw at Recreativo on Sunday lunchtime, although the result does keep up their unbeaten record this season. The Andalusians were also trying to consolidate their place in the play-off spots though, and Joselu brought a good save out of Cuéllar before Jony put the visitors ahead with a well-struck free kick in the sixth minute. Joselu went close a couple of times after that, and just four minutes before the interval he levelled the scores after an effort from Víctor Díaz was blocked following a corner. Dani Sotres had to keep out Carmona soon after the restart, but after that the intense heat took its toll, and both sides settled for a point which keeps the Andalusians a point above their hosts in the table.

Later in the evening Las Palmas beat Numancia 2-0 to jump above Valladolid and Sporting to that second spot. The Canary Islanders had knocked their opponents out of the cup just three days ago, and once again they went in front in the first half, Culio heading in a Javi Castellano centre with ten minutes to go to the break. The Argentinian forward got himself sent off however after picking up a second booking on the hour mark, but although Braian Rodríguez headed a corner against the bar, Hernán wrapped things up with a second goal in injury time. Betis though are now two points below the play-off spots after they lost 1-0 at Leganés. Julio Velázquez’s side had scraped through in the cup against Lugo thanks to a penalty shoot out after their third 0-0 draw in a row, and once again they were sadly lacking up front, hardly troubling Queco Piña throughout the ninety minutes. The locals though failed to convert several chances, but with a couple of minutes to go Velasco got on the end of Fran Moreno’s assist to score a winning goal which takes his team to within two points of the Andalusians in the rankings.

Barcelona B are now level with Betis in the table after they beat Alcorcón 4-1. The youngsters had dropped below the Madrid based team in the table after four games without a win, but with just over half an hour on the clock they were already three up, Adama setting up Dongou and Kaptoum for the first two and then scoring the third himself. Máyor got on the end of an Oscar Plano cross to get one back before the break, but Cámara put the result beyond doubt with a fourth goal later on in the seconds half, again set up by Adama. Further down the table Mallorca climbed out of the relegation spots after a 1-4 victory at Llagostera, their second win in a row. The locals had only scored three goals all season, and once again they were unlucky in front of goal, Pedro Alcalá hitting the post with an early free kick and Cabero having to make a couple of important saves. Midway through the first half however youngster Marco Asensio gave the islanders the lead with a wide free kick which caught out René, and Markovic made it two at the beginning of the second half on a quick counter-attack. Eight minutes later Fofo scored a third, and Arana made it four before Enric Pi got a late consolation for the locals. The Catalans drop in to the relegation spots as a result though, and that cost the job of coach Santi Callejo, who was fired the following day. (19.10.14)