Second Division - Day 14

Alavés join leaders Osasuna and Córdoba at the top of the second division pending their games on Sunday after a 0-1 victory at Elche in the last match of Saturday evening. Kike Femenía hit the post for the visitors before the break, and Toquero and Alvaro replied for the hosts with shots which were blocked by defenders either side of half time. Raúl García got the winner however a quarter of an hour before the final whistle with a well struck free kick, and although Carpio was sent off for a second bookable offence two minutes later, Pepe Bordalás’ team held on for three vital points. The other four matches on Saturday kicked off at four o’clock to avoid the “clásico” later in the evening, Oviedo climbing up to fourth in the table after a 0-1 win at Huesca. The strong wind made play difficult, but keepers Whalley and Esteban had to keep out Linares and Machis either side of half time. The locals were left with ten men when Iñigo López was sent off following an incident with Esteban midway through the second half, and Susaeta won it with a controversial penalty which Carlos David gave away just two minutes from the end.

The other three fixtures all ended in draws, Mirandés and Lugo both picking up a point away from home to move up into the play-off spots. Mirandés drew 2-2 at Numancia, although the Burgos based side will rue a missed opportunity to spend the night at the top of the pack after throwing away a two goal lead. Sangalli got on the end of an Alex García to open the scoring before the break, and Nestor Salinas made it two shortly after the restart. However Alex Alegría headed in an Unai Medina centre to get one back, and substitute David Concha levelled it with ten minutes to go. Lugo meanwhile came from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Mallorca, Pereira latching on to Yuste’s pass to give the locals the lead early on in the second half, and Pablo Caballero making it all square before getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence near the end. Mallorca inch out of the relegation spots pending Sunday’s games, but Bilbao Athletic and Almería remain in the bottom four after their match ended without goals, the Andalusians still in last place after an eleventh match in a row without a victory. (21.11.15)

Osasuna moved clear at the top of the second division after a 0-1 victory at Valladolid in this week’s Sunday mid-day game. It was a cold day in the Zorilla stadium, and there were only a couple of half chances in a tense first half. Three minutes after the restart though the locals were left with ten men when Marcelo Silva picked up a second booking, and with a quarter of an hour to go Nino took advantage of a poor clearance to score what was to prove the only goal of the game. Córdoba stay in second spot, although they drop two points behind the Pamplona based side after they were held to a 1-1 draw in Tenerife later in the evening. The Canary Islanders had won their last two games under new coach Pep Martí, and only Razak and the woodwork prevented Omar, Germán and Jorge from scoring before the break. With an hour on the clock though Floring gave the visitors the lead following a quick counter-attack, but five minutes before the end Nano equalized after a corner fell to him inside the area.

Ponferradina are up to fourth spot after they beat Leganés 1-0, seventeen of their twenty points having come now from their Toralín stadium. The closest anyone came to scoring in the first hour or so was when Gabriel headed against the post for the visitors. However the introduction of Djordjevic for Yuri proved the turning point, the young Montenegrin striker forcing a red card for Insúa, and then getting on the end of an Alvaro Antón free kick to head home the winner. Ponfe are level with Oviedo and with Nàstic, who beat Llagostera 2-0 to leave their regional rivals down in next to bottom spot. Iago Bouzón headed the opener midway through the first half after Rocha’s shot came off the bar following a corner, and soon afterwards the visitors were left with ten men when Escassi was sent off for a second bookable offence. And just five minutes into the second half Rayco made it two after Emaná set him up, giving the locals their revenge against the team who deprived them of promotion in the last match of the play-offs two seasons ago.

Zaragoza drop out of the top six though after they lost 1-0 at Alcorcón in the last match of the weekend. Both teams have been having problems scoring, the locals going three matches without a goal, and the visitors failing to find the net on seven occasions this season. Visiting keeper Bono had to make a couple of saves though before Oscar Plano took advantage of a mistake by Cabrera to open the scoring in the twentieth minute, and both Bono and Dmitrovic had work to do before the referee finally called it a day. It was only a second win in seven games for the Madrid based side, and they move level on points with the Maños. Further down the table Girona beat Albacete 3-0 to move a point above their opponents, and two points above the drop zone. The Catalans had not won at home all season, but midway through the first half Clerc put them ahead following a Sobrino assist. With half time approaching Jairo volleyed in the second from a Javi Alamo cross, and six minutes from the end Alcaraz wrapped things up following a quick breakaway. (22.11.15)