Second Division - Day 11

Reus are without doubt the revelation side in their first season ever in the second division, and they moved up to second spot after a 2-1 victory over Lugo on Saturday evening. Both teams started the match on seventeen points, but the Catalans went two up by the break, Máyor latching on to a loose ball to open the scoring, and Fran Carbiá running on to folch’s through ball to beat José Juan for a second time. Joselu headed one back from Pedraza’s cross some ten minutes in to the second half, but Edgar Badía and his defence held fast after that. Córdoba are now level with Lugo after they drew 1-1 at Elche, albeit that they went behind when Pelegrín deflected a wide Albacar free kick in to the net shortly before the break. Piovaccari headed in a Bergdich centre to level the scores midway through the second half, but the locals felt they should have won it late on when Guillermo headed Albacar’s corner in to the net, only for the referee to rule that the ball had curled out of play from the corner kick.

Sevilla Atlético are also on to seventeen points however after they came from behind to beat Numancia 1-2. Pablo Valcarce finished off a quick passing move with Capilla to give the locals the lead on the quarter hour mark, but Alejandro Pozo got on the end of Ivi’s cross to make it all square before the interval, and Ivi himself volleyed in the winner from Lasso’s lifted pass with a quarter of an hour to go. Rayo Vallecano are closing in on the play-off spots though, and they join the group on fifteen points after a 1-0 victory over Girona later in the evening. The Catalans had the better chances in the first half, but just a couple of minutes after the restart Manucho controlled an Alex Moreno centre to beat Bono, and local keeper Gazzaniga made a couple of important saves late on to ensure a win which takes the Madrid based team a point above their opponents in the table. Huesca are level with Rayo, Elche and Mirandés as well as they drew 1-1 against Rayo’s neighbours Getafe. Both goals came after the break, Alexander González beating Alberto García with an angled shot to give the visitors the lead, and Faurlín latching on to a loose ball after two previous efforts were blocked to drill a shot past Sergio Herrera a few minutes later. (22.10.16)

Levante are steamrollering their way back to the first division, and they maintain their six points lead at the top after a 0-3 victory at Mirandés. The locals were unbeaten at home this season, but with just under half an hour gone Roger opened the scoring for the Valencia based side after a corner was headed on to him. The striker made it two following another corner midway through the second half, and Jason scored the third after picking up a pass from Campaña with a quarter of an hour to go. The defeat means that Mirandés drop out of the play-off spots, a point below Oviedo, who take over sixth place after a 2-0 win over Tenerife later in the evening. Linares picked up a Toché pass on a quick counter-attack to give the Asturians the lead on the half hour mark, and he added his second of the night after connecting with Varela’s cross near the end. Only three points separate third from eleventh place though, Valladolid remaining two points outside of the top six after they drew 0-0 against Zaragoza. The home team had by far the better chances, Balbi hitting the post and visiting keeper Ratón having to make a string of saves, but the Maños held on for a point which keeps them one below their hosts in the table. It was not enough though to save coach Luis Milla, who was fired soon after the game finished.

Further down the table Mallorca climbed clear of the danger zone with a 1-0 victory over Alcorcón. Keepers Dmitrovic and Cabrero both saved penalties, the former from Culio after Iván González fouled Lago Junior in the eighth minute, and the latter from David Rodríguez for a foul by Juan Domínguez on Manolín. Campabadal and Joan Oriol both hit the woodwork for the locals, and Lago Junior finally won it with a third penalty after David Navarro brought down Brandon. Alcorcón had Manolín sent off for a second bookable offence later on, and they ended the weekend in next to bottom spot after Almería beat bottom club Nàstic 3-0. Antonio Puertas scored two for the locals either side of half time, the first after Pozo’s cross was headed on, and the second with a low shot past Dimitrievski. The Catalans played the last twenty minutes with nine men after Gerard Valentín was sent off and Madinda got injured with all three changes made, and Quique wrapped things up with a third goal at the end. It was a first win in eight games for Fernando Soriano’s side, and Nàstic are now further adrift after failing to win a single game. Cádiz also stay in the bottom four after they drew 2-2 with UCAM Murcia, who remain a point above them in the rankings. The Andalusians appeared to be on the way to victory when an Aridane header and a shot from Santamaría put them two up within the first quarter of an hour. However Carlos Calvo got himself sent off, and late strikes by Imaz and Juanma saved a point for the visitors. (23.10.16)