Second Division - Day 36

Almería climbed out of the relegation spots pending the rest of the weekend games after a 2-3 victory at Elche on Friday evening. Borja Fernández turned in a Fidel cross to put the Andalusians ahead midway through the first half, and although Borja Valle set up Pelayo to make it all square after the restart, Ximo Navarro restored the lead from a corner soon afterwards. Quique added a third after a good team move, and a late strike by Malonga from a Hervías free kick could not prevent a defeat which leaves Alberto Toril’s team below their opponents on goal difference. (28.04.17)

Levante made mathematically sure of an immediate return to the top flight with six games still to go after a 1-0 victory over sixth placed Oviedo on Saturday evening! Visiting keeper Juan Carlos had to make saves from Pedro López and Roger before the break, and some ten minutes in to the second half Sergio Postigo got on the end of a Campaña corner to head in what was to prove the only goal. Raúl Fernández had to keep out Toché a couple of times though to extend the unbeaten home record for Juan Ramón López Muñiz’s side. Getafe are up to third after they came from behind to beat Zaragoza 1-2, and they are now only four points below second placed Girona, who play on Sunday. Angel opened the scoring for the Maños with an angled shot shortly before the break, but Jorge Molina connected with Molinero’s cross to make it all square after the restart, and a few minutes later local keeper Alvaro Ratón deflected the ball in to his own net after David Fuster’s header came back off the post.

Tenerife though drop to fourth after they were beaten 1-0 by UCAM Murcia, the result taking the university side three points clear of the drop zone. Lozano and Hernán missed early chances for the Canary Islanders before Tito put the locals in front, following up after Dani Hernández saved from Fran Pérez with twenty minutes on the clock. And Francisco’s side held on despite having Morillas sent off for a second bookable offence with fifteen minutes to go. Valladolid missed out on a chance to close in on the play-off spots however after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Numancia. Capilla and Fran Pérez hit the woodwork at either end before Marc Mateu put the visitors in front some twenty minutes in to the second half, but ten minutes later José Arnáiz battled his way through to save a point for his side. (29.04.17)

A couple of years ago Girona just missed out on direct promotion after they were held to a last minute draw by Lugo in the final match of the season, but they got their revenge on Sunday, a 1-2 win at the Anxo Carro stadium keeping them seven points clear of third placed Getafe in the table. The Catalans had only picked up four points from their last six games, but with only a minute gone they went ahead when Carlos Hernández turned a Pere Pons centre in to his own net, and a quarter of an hour or so later Longo made it two from the penalty spot after Marcelo Djaló brought him down in the area. With the game coming to an end however Joselu got one back with a second penalty after Alcaraz was sent off for a second bookable offence after handling in the area, and there were some nervous moments before the final whistle. Cádiz meanwhile are back up to fourth, just a point behind Getafe, after a 0-2 victory at struggling Alcorcón. Sankaré headed the Andalusians in to the lead after Garrido played back an Aketxe free kick with just under a quarter of an hour gone, and Alvaro García got the second on a quick counter-attack some twenty minutes in to the second half.

Further down the table Mallorca kept alive their hopes of salvation with a 2-3 win at Sevilla Atlético. The islanders were languishing near the bottom of the table after ten games without a win, but with ten minutes gone Brandon gave them the lead from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Bernardo, and early on in the second half Moutinho made it two with a long shot in off the crossbar. Ivi headed one back from a Marc Gual cross a minute later, but Moutinho scored a third from a Brandon assist, and although Ivi converted a penalty after Campabadal fouled Matos in the area, the goal came too late to change the result. Mallorca are now six points away from safety, with four teams above them on 42 points, including Córdoba, who drew 1-1 with bottom club Mirandés. Caro put the locals in front on the hour mark from a wide Javi Lara free kick, but with the game in the fourth minute of time added on Urko Vera headed the equalizer from a Fofo free kick. (30.04.17)

Huesca are up in to the play-off spots after a 2-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Monday afternoon! The Aragón based side had gone eleven games without defeat, and things swung in their favour when Galán was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the first half. Even so Javi Guerra hit the bar soon after the restart, but David Ferreiro fired a long shot past Gazzaniga on the hour mark, and with the game in ijnury time Samu Sáiz converted a penalty after the visiting keeper brought down Borja Lázaro in the area. Rayo stay two points clear of the drop zone however after Nàstic lost 0-1 to neighbours Reus later in the evening. Visiting keeper Edgar Badía had to make a string of saves, but with the game in the ninetieth minute Máyor got on the end of a Carbia pass to score a winner which takes Natxo González’s side four points clear of their hosts in the table. (01.05.17)