Second Division - Day 24

Second placed Leganés missed out on a chance to spend the night at the top of the table after they were beaten 1-0 by Zaragoza on Saturday evening. The Madrid based side had taken 23 points from their last nine games, and with Alavés playing on Sunday, another victory would have taken them above the leaders on goal difference. Honours were shared in an even first half, but with an hour on the clock the locals could have taken the lead had Serantes not saved an Angel penalty after Mantovani brought down new signing Culio in the area. However Angel made up for his mistake, combining with Rico and Hinestroza to score what was to prove the only goal a quarter of an hour later. The other four games on Saturday all ended level, Oviedo wasting their opportunity to go second after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Albacete. The Manchegans started the weekend in the relegation spots, but within a quarter of an hour they were two up, Adriá Carmona beating Esteban with an impressive shot, and Antoñito getting the second with a cross which bounced past everyone into the net. However Toché scored twice in the last twenty minutes to save a point for the Asturians, the first following a pass from Jon Erice (who was later sent off), and the second in injury time from a Borja Valle assist.

Oviedo move to within a point of Leganés, and Elche are a point behind them, now in sixth spot, after they could only draw 0-0 against Numancia later in the evening. Rubén Baraja’s side had won their last three games, but only a string of saves by Javi Jiménez kept the scoreline level at the break. The visitors had Alex Alegria sent off later on in the second half, but they held on for their twelfth draw of the season, which keeps them safely in mid-table. A 0-0 draw as well between Valladolid and Ponferradina, a set-back for the locals in their recent push to chase down the play-off spots, but a good result for visiting technical director Tomás Nistal, who temporarily took over the reins this week after Manolo Díaz was fired. The windy conditions made play difficult though, and neither keeper had too much work to do. Ponfe stay two points above the relegation spots, still a point above Huesca, who drew 1-1 at Tenerife. Choco Lozano headed the opener for the Canary Islanders after Alberto set him up with just over half an hour gone, but the visitors went close a couple of times before Iñigo López made it all square after the ball came back off the post with two minutes to go. (06.02.16)

Alavés moved six points clear at the top of the second division after they beat Llagostera 1-0 on Sunday evening. It was a hard fought match though, and keepers Fernando Pacheco and René both had work to do in the first forty-five minutes. Kiko Femenía also hit the post, and some twelve minutes in to the second half Toquero got the winner after Juli put him through. Earlier in the day Córdoba drew 3-3 at Alcorcón, a result which took the Andalusians level on points with second placed Leganés, and left their hosts still two points below the play-off spots. De Tomás gave the visitors the lead from Florin’s pass in the fifth minute, but within a quarter of an hour the locals had turned the scoreline around, Chema levelling it following a corner, and David Rodríguez converting a penalty after Víctor Pérez brought him down in the area. However strikes either side of half time by Florin and Pedro Ríos put the visitors back in front, and it was not until six minutes from the end that David Rodríguez headed the equalizer.

Only two points separate seven teams though between second and eighth spots, Osasuna now fifth after a 0-0 draw against Almería. There were chances at both ends, but Gorosito’s side held on for an away point which keeps them just four points away from escaping the drop zone. Mirandés meanwhile are just a point behind Osasuna after they beat Lugo by a flattering 1-4, their second four-goal tally since they were knocked out of the cup by Sevilla. Sangalli started things off on a quick breakaway with six minutes to go to half time, but Iriome headed in David Ferreiro’s cross to level the scores with a quarter of an hour to go. However just two minutes later Abdón Prats restored the lead, and Sangalli and Prats added two more in the last ten minutes for the final scoreline.

The two latest results gave Mirandés a superior goal difference over Nàstic, who drop down to seventh after a 1-1 draw at regional neighbours Girona. The locals were up against it when Lekic got himself sent off for a second bookable offence with only twenty minutes gone, and ten minutes later Naranjo ran through to put the visitors ahead. However with a quarter of an hour left on the clock Mata converted a penalty after he was brought down in the area to save a point for his side. Further down the table Bilbao Athletic moved off the bottom of the pile after they came from behind to win 2-3 at Mallorca. Lago Junior opened the scoring for the locals early on, and although Etxeberría equalized following a run which Messi would have been proud of, Aveldaño headed the islanders back in front at the start of the second half. However strikes by Santamaría and Vesga a few minutes later gave the Basque side the victory, and Yuste and Wellenreuther were both sent off for second bookable offences as nerves frayed near the end. It was a first win in twelve games for the youngsters, and they climb aove Llagostera on goal difference. (07.02.16)