Second Division - Day 19

Alavés extended their lead pending Córdoba’s game on Sunday after beating regional neighbours Bilbao Athletic 3-0 on Saturday evening. Sergio Mora deflected a Manu García shot into the net to open the scoring on the quarter hour mark, and Toquero headed wide before Juli added the second with a shot from the edge of the area midway through the first half. Santamaría finally tested Fernando Pacheco with a header soon after the restart, but Manu García wrapped things up from the penalty spot after substitute Sergio Llamas was brought down in the area with twenty minutes to go. The defeat leaves the Basque side in next to bottom spot, and they could end the weekend at the foot of the table if Almería can get something from their game against Llagostera on Sunday.

The other two matches on Saturday both ended in draws, fifth placed Nàstic staying a point behind Osasuna after they held their hosts to a 1-1 scoreline. The Catalans went in front early on in the second half, De la Espada converting a penalty after David García brought down Pablo Mari in the area. However just ten minutes later Pablo Mari turned an Olavide cross into his own net under pressure from Miguel Flaño, and the locals could have won it had Olavide and Roberto Torres not had shots blocked late on. Elsewhere Elche and Mallorca also drew 1-1, a result which takes the islanders a point above the drop zone pending the rest of the weekend games. Sergio León latched on to Espinosa’s lofted pass to put the home team ahead with just under half an hour on the clock, but some twenty minutes in to the second half Armando deflected Damià’s corner into his own net for the final result. Either side could have won it in the end though had keepers Javi Jiménez and Wellenreuther not made excellent saves at both ends. (02.01.16)

Alavés stay three points clear at the top of the table after their closest rivals Córdoba were surprisingly beaten 1-2 at home to Mirandés on Sunday lunchtime. Néstor Salinas put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute after a quick passing move with Lago Junior, and Lago himself got the second from the penalty spot after Bijimine handled in the area at the start of the second half. Two minutes later Xisco got one back after keeper Raúl failed to clear Nando’s cross, but although Alex Ortíz was sent off for a second bookable offence, Carlos Terrazas’ side held on for a win which takes them into the play-off spots pending Monday’s games. Córdoba stay second though after third placed Oviedo were held to a 1-1 draw at Leganés later in the evening. The locals are unbeaten at home this season, and they took the lead with ten minutes to go when Omar Ramos got on the end of a Szymanowski cross to beat Esteban. However with seven minutes left on the clock Insua turned Toché’s shot into his own net to save a point for the Asturians.

Zaragoza missed out on a chance to move back into the top six after they could only draw 3-3 against struggling neighbours Huesca. Lluis Carreras was in charge of the Maños for the first time after Popovic was sacked, and he saw Angel put his side ahead from an Erik Moran assist with five minutes to go to the break. However the striker was sent off before half time for a retaliatory kick on an opponent, and soon after the restart goals from Fran Mérida and Héctor Figueroa turned the scoreline around. Ortuño levelled it again though and Diamanka put the locals back in front, but although Mérida was also sent off after picking up a second yellow card, Carlos David saved the draw following a corner in the third minute of time added on. Zaragoza move a point ahead of Lugo, who were beaten 2-3 by Numancia. The locals had not lost in eight games and the visitors had not won in six, but Pedraza headed the Soria based side in front from Medina’s cross in the fifth minute. A goal in each half from Jonathan Pereira, assists from Iriome and Caballero, turned the scoreline around and both teams were left a man short when Regalón and then Cendrós picked up two bookings. Alex Alegría equalized again though for the visitors, and with two minutes to go substitute Pablo Valcarce took advantage of a misunderstanding between Dealbert and keeper José Juan to score the winner.

Only two points though separate sixth placed Mirandés from twelfth placed Ponferradina, who could only draw 2-2 at Albacete. The Manchegans had lost their last three games, but they took the lead in the sixth minute when Jason headed past Santamaría following a quick passing move. Luka Djordjevic equalized though with a lob over Juan Carlos at the start of the second half, and although Samu put the locals back in front with a low shot soon afterwards, Berrocal got on the end of an Alcorán cross to beat the local keeper agin with seven minutes to go. Albacete climb out of the relegation spots pending Girona’s game on Monday, and Almería moved off the bottom of the table after a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Llagostera. Gorrosito was in charge of the locals after Carrillo was fired a few days ago, and he saw Quique González open the scoring some two minutes in to the second half after latching on to a loose ball in the area. Querol lobbed keeper Julián to equalize some eight minutes later, but Fatau beat René with a shot from outside of the area on the hour mark to give the Andalusians their first win in sixteen games. (03.01.16)

Two games on Monday night in the return from the short winter break, Alcorcón moving back up to the play-off spots after beating Tenerife 1-2. The Madrid based side scored twice in the last five minutes of the first half, Tienza’s shot deflecting in off Oscar Plano, and David Rodríguez converting a penalty after Dani Hernández brought down Plano in the area. Choco Lozano got on the end of an Aurtenexte cross to pull one back with twelve minutes to go, but the visitors held on for a win which takes them up to fourth place. The Canary Islanders are now just two points above the drop zone, level on points with Girona, who won 1-0 against Valladolid. After the rest of the weekend matches the Catalans kicked off in the bottom four, but at the start of the second half Jairo headed the only goal from Eloi’s cross to give his team only their third victory if the season. It was a setback for the visitors after winning their last two games, and they end the weekend just two points above their hosts in the table. (04.01.16)