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Second Division - Day 12

Las Palmas are back at the top of the second division after a 1-2 victory against Girona on Saturday evening. The game got off to an electrifying start, Pere Pons shooting just wide before Guzmán picked up Araujo’s pass to open the scoring. Minutes later Casto pushed a shot from David García on to the crossbar, but with just under a quarter of an hour gone Guzmán connected with Momo’s through ball to turn a shot past Becerra for his side’s second. Lejuene hit the woodwork again before Felipe Sanchón got one back, turning a shot past the visiting keeper midway through the first half, and the striker could have saved a point for his side had Casto not kept out his spot kick after Angel pulled back Mata in the area with a quarter of an hour to go. The Canary Islanders are just ahead of last week’s leaders Valladolid on goal difference after Rubi’s side were held to a 0-0 draw at Mirandés. The locals were looking for a win to help them get out of the relegation spots, and only a couple of good saves by Javi Varas prevented Jordi Pablo and Corral from giving them the lead before the break. Mojica and half time substitute Guille Andrés went close for the visitors after the restart, but Varas had to keep out Rúper near the end to ensure at least a point for his team.

Betis are up to fifth pending Sunday’s games after a 1-0 victory over Barcelona B. Once again a crowd of around 30,000 turned up to cheer on the locals, and Renella fired a shot against the post and then saw his header saved by Ortolá before the break. Sandro shot just wide at the other end, but just four minutes in to the second half Kadir won the ball off Patric on the by-line and passed across for Rennella to set up Rubén Castro for his tenth goal of the season. Sandro felt he should have had a penalty after that, but the Andalusians held on for a win which takes some pressure off coach Julio Velázquez, who was shown a red card by the referee for an altercation with one of the visiting staff close to half time. Alcorcón meanwhile are back to within three points of the play-off spots after they beat struggling Llagostera 2-0. David Rodríguez got both goals, the first after picking up a long ball from Fausto to lob René with just over a quarter of an hour gone. The visiting keeper kept out the striker later on in the first half, but some ten minutes after the restart he connected with Guichón’s cross to fire home his second of the night.

Llagostera have not won now since mid-September, and they drop to next to bottom spot, just a point above Albacete, who beat Leganés 1-0 to end a run of seven defeats in a row. Both keepers were inaction in the first half, Queco Pina saving from César Díaz, and Dorronsoro (who had to be replaced at the break) keeping out Eraso and Velasco. A minute in to the second half though Portu played on Juanra’s cross for César Díaz to open the scoring, and soon afterwards Piña pushed Rubén Cruz’s header on to the post. The visitors almost saved a point when Fran Moreno hit the upright near the end, but they ended the day just two points above Numancia, who stay in the last relegation spot after a 0-0 draw with Osasuna. The Soria based side were still looking for their first home win, and they came close when Natalio headed against the post in the second half. Jan Urban’s team held fast though for a point which keeps them in mid-table, only four points off the play-off positions but also only three from the drop zone. (08.11.14)

Sporting Gijón end the weekend just a point behind the two leaders after a 3-1 victory over Zaragoza on Sunday lunchtime. Carlos Castro put the Asturians ahead in the tenth minute after Ndi and Carmona combined to set him up, and the Spanish youth international came close a couple of times to giving his side a bigger lead. Javi Alamo equalized for the Maños on the half hour mark with his side’s first shot at goal, but José Fernández got himself sent off just before the break for hitting out at Jony, and four minutes after the restart Castro got his second of the game after Whalley could only push out a back header by his own defender Rubén following a long free kick. Even so the visitors caused some problems for Cuéllar and his defence before Sergio Alvarez headed a third goal from a Juan Muñiz free kick with a quarter of an hour to go. A set-back for Víctor Muñoz’s side, who dropped out of the play-off spots as a result, but Sporting go marching on, the only undefeated team in the top two divisions this season.

Ponferradina move back above Zaragoza to sixth after a high-scoring 3-3 draw against Recreativo. The visitors adapted better to the wet conditions, and Joselu got between Moldovan and Baró to open the scoring in the eighth minute. However Lucas headed in a Gurdiel cross with half an hour gone to level it, and Castañeda fired the locals in front following a corner early on in the second half. With twenty minute to go though Yuri was sent off for a second bookable offence, and just a couple of minutes later Antonio Nuñez got on the end of Joselu’s cross to make it all square once again. Andy restored the lead however for the home side with four minutes to go, but Menosse headed in a long free kick in injury time to save a point for the Andalusians. Recre stay two points behind their hosts in the table, level now with Mallorca, who beat Racing Santander 0-1 to clock up their fifth win in a row. Bigas missed an easy chance and Marco Asensio hit the post early on, and Scepovic put the islanders in front on the stroke of half time after another shot by Asensio came back off the upright. Koné went close a couple of times after the interval, but Karpin’s side held on for a win which leaves the Cantabrians (who had Samuel sent off in injury time) just above the drop zone once again.

Lugo are also level with Recre and Mallorca on 17 points after a late 2-1 victory over Sabadell. The Galicians had only picked up two points from their last four games, but they took the lead with seven minutes to go to the break when Iago Díaz ran on to Carlos Pita’s through ball to lob Nauzet. Gato headed the equalizer from a Collantes cross on the hour mark, but with a minute left on the clock substitute Aganzo got on the end of Iriome’s assist to turn the ball past the visiting keeper, the first goal the ex Real Madrid striker has scored in Spain in two years. Sabadell ended the day just a point above the relegation spots, and Tenerife are only a point above them after a 1-1 draw against Alavés. The visitors struck first, local keeper Roberto letting a long shot from Ion Vélez bounce past him with just under half an hour gone. However the Vitoria based side were left with ten men for the last half hour or so when Medina picked up a second booking, and Ifrán squared the match with a shot from the edge of the area after a good run by Suso with fifteen minutes remaining. The Canary Islanders will feel themselves unlucky not to get the three points though after Ifrán hit the post with the keeper beaten near the end. (09.11.14)