Second Division - Day 38

The first division season may be over, but the second division still has a month or so to run, with four matches played this Saturday evening. Zaragoza came in to their game at Numancia knowing that a win could take them in to the direct promotion spots pending Sunday’s fixtures, but in the end a 2-2 draw meant that they had to settle for fourth place. Around 3,000 fans made the short trip to Soria, and they saw their team go two up with only a quarter of the game gone, Ángel getting on the end of Rubén’s cross to open the scoring, and Lanzarote making it two following a rebound soon afterwards. However Julio Alvarez got one back with a deflected free kick on the half hour mark, and before the break the visitors were left with ten men when Dorca picked up a second booking for a rigid hand ball. The Maños held on though until five minutes from the end, when a shot from Iñigo Pérez hit Rubén and went on in to the net. A point saved for the locals, who have now drawn 18 matches this season.

Oviedo are back up to fifth, just a point now behind Zaragoza, after they beat Mirandés 4-1. Erice gave the Asturians the lead in the fourth minute following a corner, his shot going in off a defender, but for the rest of the first half the visitors had the better chances, Eguaras hitting the bar, and Miño having to save from Alain and Sangalli. Toché made it two though after Linares set him up soon after the restart, and Borja Valle added a third, lifting a shot past Raúl Fernández. With a quarter of an hour to go Susaeta rounded things off from the penalty spot after Galán handled in the area, and Sangalli got a late consolation for the visitors in time added on.

The defeat left Mirandés six points below the play-off spots, still level with Tenerife, who also lost 1-0 at Mallorca. The home side needed points themselves to get clear of the danger zone, but despite having the better chances it was not until ten minutes from the end that Ortuño headed in a Joan Oriol centre for the only goal of the match. That took Fernando Vázquez’s team three points above the bottom four, although they are still six points below the side immediately above them, Valladolid, who beat next to bottom club Albacete 1-0 as well. Oscar González got the winner in the eighth minute after Roger set him up, although the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle. (14.05.16)

Leganés and Alavés have opened up a four point gap over the rest after Sunday’s games, Leganés staying in first place on goal difference despite a 0-0 draw at third placed Nàstic in the mid-day match. The Catalans had a great chance to go ahead with only ten minutes gone when Gerard Valentín won his side a penalty, but Emaná fired the resulting spot kick way over the top. Gabriel hit the bar for the visitors soon afterwards, but Pablo Insúa was sent off for bringing down Naranjo on the half hour mark, and Naranjo himself hit the woodwork before the half time whistle. Garitano’s team held on after the break though for a valuable point which also gives them the head-to-head advantage against a direct promotion rival. Alavés are now level with Leganés in the table after they beat Alcorcón 0-1 later in the evening. Pepe Bordalás was returning to one of his old hunting grounds with no less than six ex-Alcorcón players in his squad, and he saw his team have the better chances in the first half, Juli in particular hitting the bar. And just a minute after the restart Dani Pacheco got what was to prove the only goal, winning the ball off Dejené before running on to beat Dmitrovic.

Alcorcón are now three points off the play-off spots, sixth place currently occupied by Osasuna after they drew 0-0 at neighbours Bilbao Athletic. Despite the result, the two keepers were the busiest men on the park, Nauzet saving in particular from Guaarotxena and Aketxe before the break, and Jon Ander keeping out Roberto Torres and Olavide after the restart. The defeat means that Bilbao are the first team to be relegated, Ziganda’s “cachorros” ending the weekend 14 points away from safety with four games to go. Elche and Girona remain two points outside of the top six though after they cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Granell fired the Catalans in to an early lead, and they could have added a second when Sergio León headed against his own crossbar soon afterwards. However the visitors had Alcalá sent off for a second bookable offence shortly before the break, and with a quarter of an hour to go Carles Clerc put through his net following a corner to save a point for Rubén Baraja’s side.

Only six points separate third placed Nàstic from tenth placed Córdoba though, the Andalusians falling a point behind Elche and Girona after losing 1-0 at Llagostera. Imaz got the only goal for the Girona based side after Pitu put him through with a quarter of an hour gone, and local keeper René made a couple of important saves from Fidel for a win which keeps alive their hopes of salvation. Llagostera are now just a point behind Almería after Gorosito’s team lost 2-1 at Huesca, the result costing the job of the visiting coach who was the fourth to be fired at the club since the start of the season! Quique González did give them a first half lead though after Kalu Uche set him up, but midway through the second half two goals in four minutes by Tyronne and Alexander González gave the locals three vital points which take them five clear of the drop zone. Almería are now three points away from safety after Ponferradina beat Lugo 2-1, goals either side of half time from Basha and Aguza putting the home side two up before Ferreiro got one back late on for the Galicians. (15.05.16)