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Second Division - Day 21

Las Palmas were already sure of the honorific title of winter champions a week ago, and at the mid-point of the season they move five points clear at the top pending Sunday’s games after a 1-1 draw at Alavés on Saturday evening. The Canary Islanders went behind when Despotovic headed in a Toti cross just two minutes in to the second half, and when Roque was sent off for a second bookable offence soon afterwards they appeared to be heading for a first defeat away from home since the end of September. However Paco Herrera turned to Jonathan Viera, who had just rejoined the club on loan from Standard Liège, and with five minutes to go he .got on the end of Momo’s assist to save a point for his side. Earlier in the evening Girona beat Lugo 1-2 to move back up to third, level with Valladolid and Sporting in the table. The Catalans scored twice in as many minutes midway through the first half, Sandaza poking the ball into the net when keeper José Juan tried to dribble round him, and Alex Granell firing home the second with a shot from outside of the area. Lolo Plá got one back with a header in off the post from Ferreiro’s cross shortly before half time, the referee ruling that the ball had crossed the line before Becerra scrambled it away, but the forward missed the easiest of chances to equalize later on in the second half, and the locals ended with ten men after Aganzo was sent off for a hard tackle on an opponent in injury time.

The Galicians have not won now for six games, and they ended the day just a point above Racing Santander, who climbed out of the drop zone after a 1-0 victory over bottom club Albacete. The only goal came in the tenth minute, visiting keeper Dorronsoro trying to turn past Mariano and (like José Juan above) only succeeding in gifting the ball for the striker to fire a shot into the empty net. The Manchegans had a chance to square the match when Samuel brought down his namesake in the area early on in the second half, but Mario guessed correctly and saved César Díaz’s spot kick. Both teams had a player sent off in a frantic last few minutes, Edu Ramos and Mariano both being shown straight red cards within minutes of each other, and David Concha came close to a second for the locals when he hit the post near the end. Sabadell are now two points clear of Albacete after they drew 0-0 at Osasuna, although they remain in the drop zone for another week at least. Marcos García fired a shot against the bar for the Catalans before the break, and Santamaría had to keep out a Benja header after the restart. Nino and Kodro went close for the locals though either side of half time, and visiting keeper Nauzet had to save from De las Cuevas and Roberto Torres later on in the second half (17.01.15)

Sporting Gijón’s unbeaten record in the league has finally come to an end after they were beaten 1-2 by Betis on Sunday lunchtime. The Asturians went ahead though in the fourth minute, Jony winning the ball off Dani Ceballos and setting up Juan Muñiz to beat Adán. Cases and Muñiz both hit the woodwork before the break, but Cuéllar had to be at his best to keep out Rubén Castro, and some six minutes in to the second half Bruno got on the end of Pacheco’s free kick to head home the equalizer. A quarter of an hour later Xavi Torres volleyed in the second, and although Ndi and Pablo Pérez went close later on, Pepe Mel’s side held on for a win which takes them above their hosts and up to second place in the table. (18.01.15)

Valladolid drop to third after they were beaten 2-0 by Llagostera later in the evening. Querol missed an early chance to give the Catalans the lead after a Javi Varas clearance was charged down, but some five minutes in to the second half Sergio León got the opener with an angled shot in off the far post. Querol got the second after Gila put him through, and although Chica hit the post in the dying minutes, the result was never in doubt. Meanwhile Ponferradina hold on to sixth spot for another week after they drew 1-1 at Alcorcón. The Madrid based side started the day just three points behind their opponents in the table, but they went behind with just under a quarter of an hour gone when Acorán beat Falcón on a quick counter-attack. David Rodríguez headed the equalizer shortly before the break, but even with Ponfe down to ten men after Lucas Domínguez was sent off for a second bookable offence, they could find no way past Kepa in the visiting goal.

Zaragoza are back up to within one point of Ponferradina after they beat Leganés 2-0. Borja Bastón was the hero of the evening, the ex Atlético striker opening the scoring midway through the first half after Ruíz de Galarreta set him up. Local keeper Bono had several saves to make however before Borja latched on to Dorca’s pass to wrap things up with eight minutes to go, giving his side their first victory of 2015. The Maños move above Mirandés on goal difference after Carlos Terrazas’ side lost 2-0 at Mallorca, their first defeat in ten games. Urko Vera hit the bar for the visitors before the break, but Arana had an early goal ruled out for a dubious offside, and some ten minutes in to the second half Fofo got on the end of a Cendrós cross to give the islanders the lead. There were chances at either end after that, but with five minutes to go Asensio made sure of the result, the young striker firing a low shot wide of Imanol to take his side up to the top half of the table.

Numancia stay just above Mallorca on goal difference after they drew 0-0 at Tenerife, their twelfth game in a row without defeat bout their fifth consecutive draw. Iñigo and Julio Alvarez both tested new keeper Dani Hernández before the break, Munir responded keeping out an Ifrán free kick after the restart, and Iñigo Pérez hit the bar for the visitors near the end, but in the end both teams had to settle for a point apiece. The Canary Islanders are now just two points above the drop zone, one better than Barcelona B, who beat Recreativo 3-1. All the goals came after the break, Cámara netting the first for the locals with a long shot which Dani Sotres let through. Sandro got the second from the penalty spot after Dongou was brought down in the area, and Munir set up Cámara for the thirdbefore Pedro Ríos got a late consolation for the Andalusians.It was a first home win for Eusebio’s side in three months, and the result leaves their opponents further down in the drop zone after only picking up one point in their last eight games.(18.01.15)