Second Division - Day 5

Last week’s joint leaders Alcorcón are off the top of the table after they were beaten 1-0 by Bilbao Athletic on Saturday evening. Oscar Plano and David Rodríguez hit the woodwork for the visitors either side of half time, but Saborit hit the bar at the other end, and with twelve minutes to go young substitute Villalibre got on the end of Saborit’s cross to score the winner. Lugo are now level on points with Alcorcón and Osasuna after they drew 0-0 at Leganés. Guillermo and Joselu both went close in an even first half, but after the break visiting keeper José Juan had to make important saves from Szymanowski and Mantovani amongst others to ensure the result. Oviedo also missed out on a chance to go top after they lost 1-2 to Girona, their first defeat of the season. Borja Valle headed the Asturians into the lead from Susaeta’s corner with just under half an hour gone, but some ten minutes later Granell levelled it from the penalty spot after Susaeta brought down Mata in the area. Mata himself scored a second for the visitors from a Javi Alamo cross some twenty minutes in to the second half, and the Catalans held on despite having substitute Alcaraz sent off after he picked up two bookings in as many minutes with a quarter of an hour to go.

The bottom two teams also met on Saturday, Tenerife climbing off the foot of the table above Llagostera after beating their hosts 0-2. Mosquito and Querol failed to convert chances for the locals at the beginning of each half, but Lozano went close for the visitors a couple of times in reply. With just over an hour on the clock Suso connected with Pedro Martín’s through ball to beat Moragón, and some ten minutes later Raúl Cámara set up Suso again for him to wrap things up for the Canary Islanders. Elsewhere Mirandés and Albacete cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, a result which left both safely in mid-table on six points. Lago Junior fired the opener for the locals midway through their first half, and things seemed to swing further in their favour soon afterwards when young keeper Héctor Pizana (replacing the injured Juan Carlos and Dorronsoro) was sent off for bringing down Abdon Prats in the area. However fourth choice keeper Hugo saved Rúper’s spot kick, numbers were evened up when Gaffoor picked up a second booking late on, and with the game in the fourth minute of injury time Portu took advantage of a defensive mistake to save a point for the visitors. (19.09.15)

Osasuna move clear at the top of the second division after a 0-1 victory at Zaragoza in this Sunday’s mid-day game. Nino connected with a Roberto Torres centre to give the Pamplona based side the lead with just under half an hour on the clock. Aria missed an easy chance after the restart and Ortuño brought a good save out of Nauzet, but Wilk was sent off for a second bookable offence near the end, and the Maños fell to a second consecutive home defeat which leaves coach Popovic in trouble. Elche and Gimnàstic are two points behind the leaders after both won their respective games later in the evening, the two teams also tied on goals for and against. Elche beat Huesca 1-3, Sergio León opening the scoring for the visitors with eighteen minutes gone. Héctor and León added two more in a five minute period midway through the second half, and Tyronne scored a last minute consolation for the hosts, who stay in next to bottom spot. Nàstic meanwhile won 1-0 against Mallorca, Marcos De la Espada getting on the end of a Moussa cross to score the only goal just before the break. The defat leaves the islanders down in twentieth spot.

Numancia drop a point below Elche and Nàstic after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Valladolid. Mojica opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighteenth minute, and then set up Rodri for the second at the start of the second half. Juan Villar was sent off before the break though for a second bookable offence, and with twenty minutes to go Valladolid were left with nine men when Samuel was also sent off. Julio Alvarez converted the resulting penalty, and Oscar Díaz saved a point for Jacobo Arrasate’s side with a late equalizer. Numancia head up a group of five teams on nine points, including Alavés and Córdoba. Alavés won 0-2 at Almería, Raúl García putting them ahead with a well struck free kick in the eighth minute. Local defender Dubarbier was sent off after picking up a second yellow card at the start of the second half, but Chuli had a goal disallowed for a non-existent offside, and the result was in doubt until Toquero wrapped things up in the ninetieth minute. Córdoba meanwhile beat Ponferradina 1-0, Florin getting the only goal following a corner just before the interval, and the Andalusians holding on after Luso was sent off with a quarter of an hour to go. (20.09.15)