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Second Division - Day 14

Fourth placed Sporting Gijón are now level on points with the three leaders pending their games on Sunday after a 0-0 draw against Llagostera on Saturday evening. The Asturians dominated for much of the match, but they were unable to make much inroad against a well ordered and at times physical defence. Only a header wide of the mark by Carlos Castro caused any problems for Moragón in the first half, and Alex Barrera and Carmona both failed to find the target later on. In the end though local keeper Cuéllar had to make two important saves from Eloy Gila and Sergio León, and although the result gave them a record fourteenth game without defeat, Abelardo’s side were disappointed that they hadn’t done more. Ponferradina stay in fifth spot after a high scoring 4-4 draw with Barcelona B. Alberto Aguilar headed in an early corner to put the locals in front, but Sandro, Traoré and Halilovic all beat Prieto with long shots to turn the scoreline around by the break. Acorán got another one back with a deflected shot midway through the second half, but when Oscar Ramírez turned Traoré’s cross in to his own net two minutes later it seemed to be over. However substitute Yuri got clear twice to score two in the following four minutes, rounding off an exciting evening and leaving Eusebio’s side without a win for the fifth game in a row.

Zaragoza’s form has been dropping off recently, and they remain a point below the top six after losing 2-0 at neighbours Numancia. The Soria based side started the day in the relegation spots having not won a single game at home this season, but they took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Sergi Enrich headed in an Antonio Tomás cross with twenty minutes on the clock. Julio Alvarez made it two after the break with a long free kick which went through the hands of young keeper Oscar Whalley, and any hopes of a comeback ended when Willian José was sent off for a second bookable offence near the end. Mallorca are now just a point behind the Maños after they drew 0-0 at a rainy Tenerife, a seventh game in a row without defeat for Karpin’s side. Despite the result both keepers had work to do, in particular late on when Cabrero saved from Suso and youngster Carlos Abad turned a shot by Martí round the post. Tenerife move out of the relegation spots, a point above Sabadell, who fell back in to the bottom four after losing 3-1 at Racing Santander. The Cantabrians themselves began the game in the drop zone, and they went behind in the fifth minute when Collantes converted a penalty after Mario brought down Gato in the area. However in the next quarter of an hour Iñaki connected with a Miguélez assist to equalize and then floated in a free kick for Borja Granero to head the locals in to the lead, and Koné wrapped things up with another header from Juanpe’s headed pass with twenty minutes to go. (22.11.14)

Las Palmas stay in top spot for another week after beating promotion rivals Valladolid 1-2 on Sunday lunchtime. The Canary Islanders were the better side throughout most of the first half, although they went behind just before the break when Jeffren set up Oscar Díaz to beat Casto. With just over an hour gone however Momo equalized from the penalty spot after Peña tripped Roque in the area, and Vicente Gómez got the winner for the visitors a quarter of an hour later with a low shot inside the near post after picking up a centre by Araujo. Later in the evening Girona beat Recreativo 2-0 to move up level on points with Las Palmas, the two leaders now three points clear of Sporting and Valladolid in the table. The Catalans took the lead in only the second minute, Felipe Sanchón looping a long header past Dani Sotres from an Alex Granell corner. Becerra had to save from Pedro Ríos a few minutes later, but with ten minutes to go to the interval Granell picked up the ball on the right of the area and curled a shot over the head of Sotres for the second. Another goal would have taken the locals to the top of the table, but despite having several chances they were unable to add to the scoreline.

Recreativo stay outside of the top six, a point behind Betis, who remain in the play-off spots despite a 1-2 defeat at home to Alavés. Juli opened the scoring for the visitors in the fifteenth minute with a header from Toti’s cross, and Raúl García made it two with a shot from outside of the area some ten minutes later. Rubén Castro did get one back from the penalty spot after Migue handled in the area early on in the second half, but Manu and his defence held fast after that for three valuable points which takes them to within two points of their hosts in the table. The defeat leaves local coach Julio Velázquez facing the sack after disappointed fans called for his head after the final whistle. Only one point though separates Betis from ninth placed Alcorcón, who are level with Recreativo and Zaragoza after a 1-0 victory over Lugo. The Galicians had Borja Gómez sent off following an off-the-ball incident with Guichón midway through the first half, and they were left with nine men for the last quarter of an hour or so when Manu was also shown a red card for a second bookable offence. Even so they held on until seven minutes before the end when Héctor Verdés knocked in the rebound after José Juan failed to hold on Nagore’s shot.

Albacete stay in bottom spot despite a 2-0 win over Osasuna, only their third victory of the season but their second in a row at home. Visiting coach Jan Urban had to put out a makeshift line-up, with three players from the B team and winger Sisi at left back, but they did go close a couple of times before Cidoncha put the locals ahead, beating Santamaría at the third attempt after he blocked two shots by Portu. Raoul Loe headed just wide on the hour mark, but soon afterwards Cidoncha ran through to score his second of the evening. Osasuna ended the weekend just a point above the drop zone, level with Tenerife and with Mirandés, who climb out of the bottom four after a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Leganés. Keepers Razak and Serantes were barely troubled throughout, and the game appeared to be fizzling out to a scoreless draw until team captain César Caneda headed in a Jordi Pablo corner with a minute to go. Local substitute Pedro Martín did get himself sent off after that for a tackle from behind on an opponent, but the game finished soon afterwards to leave Leganés down in the relegation spots once more. (23.11.14)