Second Division - Day 16

Alavés moved to the top of the second division pending Sunday’s games after beating Valladolid 1-2 on Saturday evening. “El Glorioso” had never won in their last twelve outings to the Zorrilla stadium, but they took the lead in the seventh minute when Dani Pacheco caught out Kepa with a long shot. Juan Villar equalized after Diego Rubio laid the ball back to him soon after the restart, but Kike Femenía got the winner for the visitors midway through the second half. Coach Pepe Bordalás wasn’t there to see it though as he had to be attended to by ambulance personnel at half time, luckily not for anything serious as it turned out. Nàstic meanwhile were temporarily up to second when they took the lead against bottom club Almería, although they ended the day in fourth spot after the visitors fought back to 2-2. The Catalans took the lead twice, the first time in the third minute when Dubarbier and Morcillo turned the ball into their own net trying to clear a cross from Emaná. Lolo Reyes made it all square a quarter of an hour later after a defender deflected a Iago Díaz centre to him, but Alex López put the locals back in front soon afterwards, following up after Julián pushed a Palance free kick against the upright. With two minutes to go though Alex López headed past his own keeper after Cuéllar headed on a corner to give the Andalusians a sixth draw in a row.

Alcorcón stay two points behind Nàstic in fifth place after they drew 1-1 with Lugo. The Madrid based side had the better chances early on, David Rodríguez in particular bringing a good save out of José Juan, but with eight minutes to go to the break Iriome headed the visitors into the lead from David Ferreiro’s cross. That was about their only effort on target though, and with the final whistle approaching Máyor headed in a Collantes centre to keep his side a point ahead of their opponents in the table. Elsewhere Elche and Tenerife played out a 0-0 draw, a result which leaves both teams in the lower reaches of the rankings. The hero of the night though was visiting keeper Dani Hernández, who made a string of saves from Pelayo, Alex Moreno and others, and also kept out a Sergio León penalty after Aitor Sanz fouled Moreno in the area before the break. It was a fifth game without defeat for the Canary Islanders under new coach Pep Martí, and they are now three points above the drop zone. (05.12.15)

Córdoba stay a point clear of Alavés at the top of the table after a 1-2 victory at Girona in the last match on Sunday evening. The Catalans had only won once at home this season, but they had the better of the first half, Jairo missing an easy chance and Razak having to save from Sobrino. However some ten minutes in to the second half Fidel put the visitors ahead after Becerra blocked a shot from Florin, and just two minutes later Florin headed the second from a corner. Mata did get one back from the penalty spot after Gálvez brought down a forward with a couple of minutes to go, but it was another defeat in the Montilivi stadium, and ended the weekend just two points above the drop zone. Osasuna though are down to third after they lost 3-0 at Ponferradina in this Sunday’s mid-day game. The locals were on a high after beating Eibar by a similar result in the cup, and with only five minutes gone Acorán put them in front after Gurdiel set him up on a quick breakaway. With half an hour gone Alvaro Antón made it two with a well struck free kick, and Yuri got the third midway through the second half after Berrocal headed on Ignasi Miquel’s long clearance. The visitors were left with ten men when David García picked up a second booking soon afterwards, and they are now out of the direct promotion spots following a fourth defeat in six games.

Ponfe are up to fifth, level on points with Oviedo, who beat Llagostera 2-1 later in the evening. All the goals came in the first quarter of the game, Linares opening the scoring in the second minute after connecting with a cross from Johannesson. Visiting keeper René had to save from Linares and Koné soon afterwards, but Querol got ahead of Esteban to touch on a long punt from Chus Herrero and run the ball into the net with twenty minutes gone. However Koné restored the lead following a Hervías corner four minutes later, and the Asturians controlled the game after that to leave their opponents still down in the bottom four. Mirandés are just a point behind Oviedo though after they won 1-2 at Huesca. The locals had beaten Villarreal in the cup midweek, but they went behind when Kijera beat Whalley with a well struck free kick just before the interval. Jonathan Moya headed the equalizer soon after the restart, but visiting keeper Raúl Fernández made several key saves, and Alex Ortíz got the winner for the visitors with three minutes to go following a corner.

It was a disappointing result for new coach Juan Antonio Anquela, and his side drop into the relegation zone after Mallorca beat Albacete 2-0. The Balearic Islanders were also under new management, Pepe Gálvez taking over from his boss Chapi Ferrer midweek, and only some good saves by visiting keeper Juan Carlos prevented them from going ahead before the break. Some five minutes into the second half however Bianchi gave them the lead from the penalty spot after Paredes brought down Moutinho in the area, and with twenty minutes to go Brandon ran on to a long pass to round the keeper and wrap things up. Elsewhere Leganés beat Numancia 1-2 to close to within two points of the play-off spots. Both teams started the match level on points, but Guillermo set up Toni Dovale to give the visitors the lead on the quarter hour mark. Guillermo headed a second from a wide free kick after the interval, and although Oscar Díaz headed in a Luis Valcarce centre near the end, it was too late to prevent a first home defeat for the Soria based side and, curiously, a first away win for Leganés. (06.12.15)

Zaragoza are up to third in the table, level on points with Osasuna and Nàstic, after a 0-1 victory at bottom club Bilbao Athletic on Monday evening. The only goal came early on, Angel heading in a Pedro corner in the tenth minute, but Remiro had to be at his best to keep out Pedro before the break. After the interval Saborit and Yeray tested Bono, but the Maños could have won by a bigger margin when Cabrera hit the bar late on. (07.12.15)