Second Division - Day 11

Córdoba moved two points clear at the top of the table pending Osasuna’s game on Sunday after beating Nàstic 2-0 on Saturday evening. Both goals came before the break, Fidel opening the scoring in the fifth minute following a long throw-in from Stankevicius, and Florin picking up a pass from Markovic to make it two shortly before half time. Pablo Mari and Xisco Muñoz went close for the Catalans after the restart, but Markovic could have increased the lead when he hit the post near the end. Ponferradina are up to third after a 0-1 victory at Llagostera, a first away win of the season for Manolo Díaz’s side. Berrocal got the only goal of the game after connecting with an Acorán cross some ten minutes in to the second half, although local keeper Ratti had to make a string of saves to prevent a bigger defeat.

Some six teams are now a point behind Ponferradina though pending the Sunday fixtures, Mirandés moving level with Alcorcón after beating the Madrid based side 3-0. Galán got on the end of a wide Egaras free kick to score the opener somewhat against the run of play on the half hour mark, and Alex García took advantage of a bad back pass to make it two just five minutes later. Local keeper Raúl had a couple of saves to make, but Lago Junior wrapped things up on a quick counter-attack some ten minutes in to the second half. Lugo also move on to 16 points after beating struggling Tenerife, a result which probably signalled the end for visiting coach Raúl Agné. Jonathan Pereira latched on to a loose ball in the area to put the Galicians ahead in the ninth minute, and Pablo Caballero made it two from the penalty spot after the striker was fouled by Germán Sánchez. Numancia drop a point below the chasing pack though after they lost 2-0 at Huesca, who themselves are now level with the Soria based side in the table. Fran Mérida scored the first himself on the half hour mark and set up Mainz for the second just a minute after the break to extend his team’s unbeaten record to six games. (31.10.15)

Osasuna stay in second spot after they lost 0-1 at home to Girona on Sunday evening. The Pamplona based side had been ousted from first place by Córdoba on Saturday, and they were beaten at home for the first time this season thanks to a goal by Alcáraz, who won the ball in midfield and ran on to fire a long shot past Nauzet midway through the first half. Zaragoza are up to third, just a point behind Osasuna, after they beat Elche 2-0 in this Sunday’s mid-day game. Both goals came after the break, Hinestroza opening the scoring with a shot which deflected in off a defender, and Ortuño wrapping things up late on after a quick passing move with Jorge Díaz. Alavés drop two points behind Zaragoza though after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Albacete. Toquero got on the end of a Carpio cross to give the locals the lead with less than a minute on the clock, but Paredes levelled the scores shortly before the break, and the Vitoria based side ended with ten men when substitute Guichón was shown a straight red card for a hard tackle on an opponent with two minutes to go.

The other three games on Sunday also ended all square, Oviedo staying out of the play-off spots after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Bilbao Athletic. Despite the result keepers Esteban and Remiro had work to do, and Nervías hit the bar for the locals after the break, but in the end both coaches settled for a point. The match between Leganés and Mallorca also ended scoreless, leaving both on thirteen points, just three above the drop zone. Serantes had to save from Javi Ros and Borja Lázaro hit the bar in the best chances for either side, but in the end they had to make do with sharing the points, for the seventh time this season for the locals, and the fourth for the visitors. Valladolid are on thirteen points as well after they drew 1-1 at Almería, who themselves remain at the bottom of the table despite the result, the two teams under new management after Carrillo and Portugal took over a few days ago, Both goals came after the restart, Quique González giving the locals the lead and Mojica equalizing for the visitors soon afterwards. The result could have been different though had keepers Kepa and Casto not saved late penalties, the former from Chuli after Timor fouled Pozo, and the latter from Mojica after Montoro tripped Marcelo Silva. (01.11.15)