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Second Division - Day 15

Girona move a point clear at the top of the second division after a 0-0 draw at Osasuna on Saturday evening. The locals started the game just a point above the drop zone after three games without scoring, but only some great stops by Becerra prevented Kodro, Nekounam and Ansarifard from giving them the lead before the break. The Catalans could have won it in the end though had Felipe Sanchón and Mata been able to convert their chances late on. Last week’s co-leaders Las Palmas were unable to play as their match at Sabadell was called off due to a waterlogged pitch following heavy rainstorms in Catalunya, and Valladolid stay in fourth place after they lost 1-0 at Leganés later in the evening. Rubi’s side had the better chances in the first half, Leao heading just wide and Jeffren coming up against Serantes. However after the restart Javi Varas had to save from Alvaro, and Eraso and Fran Moreno hit the woodwork before Borja Lázaro cut in from the wing to score what was to prove the only goal of the match. It was first win in six games for the Madrid based side, and they move out of the relegation spots pending Sunday’s results.

Although the match at Sabadell was postponed, the referee in charge of the fixture just down the road between Llagostera and Betis allowed the game to go on. Conditions were unplayable right from the start though, and at times it seemed like waterpolo rather than football. Caretaker coach Juan Merino was in charge of the Andalusians after Julio Velázquez was fired last weekend, and he saw his side adapt to the conditions better than their hosts, running out 0-2 victors in the end. Both goals came after the break, Rubén Castro heading in Kadir’s cross and then putting Rennella through for the second with ten minutes to go. Tarradellas headed against the bar in between and visiting keeper Adán had to pull off a couple of important saves, but the visitors won through to move up to fifth and leave their hosts down in next to bottom spot. Elsewhere Numancia won 0-2 at Alavés, a result which takes the Soria based side level with their hosts in mid-table. Both teams have been on good runs recently, but the visitors went in front on the hour mark when Vicente played on Isidoro’s cross for Sergi Enrich to beat Manu Fernández, and Julio Alvarez wrapped things up with a well struck free kick some four minutes before the final whistle. (29.11.14)

Sporting Gijón kept up their unbeaten record thanks to a 0-1 victory at Mallorca on Sunday lunchtime, and the Asturians are now third, just a point behind leaders Girona. Abelardo’s home-grown youngsters had the better chances throughout, Muñiz going close early on and Serrano also trying his luck before Bernardo finally beat Cabrero after the ball fell to him following a corner with fifteen minutes to go. Later in the evening Zaragoza beat Ponferradina 4-1 to move above their opponents in to the play-off spots, a good start for new coach Popovic who took over from Víctor Muñoz a few days ago. The Maños had not won in four games, but they took the lead in only the third minute when Pedro’s free kick was headed on towards goal and Prieto deflected the ball in to his own net, the referee awarding the strike to Lolo even though it appeared that it was visiting defender Aguilar who got his head to it. By half time the locals were three up, Borja heading in a Javi Alamo cross and then seeing his blocked shot fall kindly for Pedro to slide the ball in to the net, and just two minutes after the interval Eldin ran through to chip a shot over Prieto for the fourth. After that though Zaragoza relaxed, and Yuri got one back after Sobrino set him up with just under an hour on the clock.

Lugo moved back up to within two points of the top six after a 1-0 win over Tenerife. Results earlier in the weekend meant that the Canary Islanders started the match in the relegation spots, but although they were the better team in the first half they were unable to take their chances. The visitors were left with ten men just four minutes in to the second half when Aridane picked up a harsh second yellow card, but numbers were evened up a few minutes later when Samu was also sent off for a second bookable offence. With ten minutes to go Ricardo hit the bar and Carlos Ruíz and Cristo Martín forced saves out of local keeper José Juan, but soon afterwards ex Tenerife midfielder Iriome headed in a corner to give the Galicians the three points. Lugo are now a point above Recreativo after the Huelva based side lost 0-1 to Mirandés. Neither team managed a shot on goal until Razak had to save from Pedro Ríos and then Joselu midway through the second half. However with the game petering out to a draw, substitute Juanjo scored a last minute winner from Barahona’s assist to take the visitors out of the relegation zone.

Alcorcón ended the weekend just outside of the play-off spots after they beat Racing Santander 0-1 earlier in the day, the Madrid based side having picked up eleven points from their last five games. Nagore got what was to prove the only goal of the match shortly before the break with a shot which local keeper Mario Fernández let through his hands. After the restart the Cantabrians created several chances, Miguélez hitting the post and Marino coming up against Falcón, but without their star striker Koné they were unable to find the route to goal. Racing are now only a point above the drop zone, and Albacete are only two points below them after they beat Barcelona B 1-2. Eusebio’s side had dropped into the lower reaches of the table after five games without a win, but they went in front on the quarter hour mark when Gumbau turned an Adama cross past Alberto. A heavy rainstorm made play almost impossible after the interval, but Keko splashed past Lucas and Ortolá with eight minute to go to equalize with an angled shot, and with the match coming to an end Samu latched on to a loose ball which got stuck in a puddle in the area to fire home the winner. It was a second victory in a row for the Manchegans, who move off the bottom of the table to the detriment of Llagostera. (30.11.14)

Las Palmas move a point clear at the top of the second division after a 2-2 draw at Sabadell on Wednesday evening, a game which had been rescheduled after the original fixture was rained off some ten days ago. The Canary Islanders started well, Araujo hitting the bar before Roque set up Nauzet for the opener with twenty minutes gone. Hidalgo equalized though just three minutes later after Aythami failed to clear Cristian’s cross, but soon after the restart Roque fired a shot against the crossbar once again, and a few minutes later Athami got above the defence to head in Nauzet’s free kick. With twenty minutes left though Javi Castellano turned a Javi Hervás pass in to his own net, and that was how it ended. Not the result Sabadell’s new coach Alex García wanted, but the draw takes the Catalans to witihn a point of escaping the drop zone. (10.12.14)