If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

News Archive

Match round-up - Second Division A, Day 4

None of the three teams relegated from the first division have started the season well, Mallorca and Zaragoza languishing in the lower reaches of the table, and Deportivo La Coruña losing 0-1 to Murcia on Sunday lunchtime, their second home defeat in a row. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half, Dorca drilling a first time shot past Lux from the edge of the area following a wide set-piece free kick, and after that they sat back to defend. Visiting keeper Casto made top class saves from Borja and Bergantiños before the break, and Arizmendi headed a good chance just wide of the post after the restart, but for the second time in a row in the Riazor stadium, the Galicians were unable to score.

Six games later on Sunday evening, with Mirandés leading the table for the first time in their history after a 0-1 win at Real Madrid Castilla. On loan Athletic youngster Ruíz de Galarreta hit the post early on before putting the visitors ahead in the twentieth minute, his low shot beating Rubén Yáñez after Iriome chested on Koikili's cross. Local coach Alberto Toril decided to change his two holding midfielders José Rodríguez and Aguza with only half an hour gone, and after that things improved, with Lucas and Rozzi going close before the break. Iriome hit the woodwork again though before the break, and after the interval Prieto made a string of saves to ensure the three points, and leave the hosts at the bottom of the table without a single point to date.

Only three teams remain unbeaten though after four rounds of matches, Mirandés, Numancia (who have draw three) and Sporting Gijón, who are up to third after a 2-2 draw at Ponferradina. They had to come from behind twice to do so though, Fofo putting the locals in front in the sixth minute with a back-heel flick in off the post following a cross from the left wing. Scepovic made it all square soon afterwards however, heading Lora's cross past Santamaría to equal an 80 year old club record of scoring in the first four games of the season. But although Cuéllar saved a Yuri penalty at the start of the second half after Lora handled in the area, Fofo got on the end of Jonathan's cross to restore the lead minutes later. Carmona headed in another Lora cross though with twenty minutes to go to save a point for the Asturians in the end.

Girona missed out on a chance to top the table after they were beaten 3-1 by new boys Jaén. Mallorca's victory the day before had left the Andalusians at the bottom of the table, but they started well, Kitoko and Curto both missing sitters before Quesada headed in Villa's wide free kick with ten minutes to go to the break. Midway through the second half Hugo Alvarez made it two with an individualist effort, and Machado headed the third from a corner before Timor got an injury time consolation for the Catalans. Ricardo Rodríguez's side stay fifth, level with six other clubs on seven points, including Eibar, who beat Córdoba 1-0 to catch up with the Andalusians in the table. Both teams had their chances throughout the game, but with a goal-less draw looming, substitute Urko Vera headed in an injury time Eizmendi cross to give the Basques their first home win of the season.

Barcelona B and Recreativo are also on seven points, the former drawing 2-2 at Tenerife, and the latter winning 2-0 at Hércules later in the evening. Barça B keeper Masip had to make several saves before he was finally beaten by Luimi Loro following an indirect free kick shortly before half time, the first goal that the Canary Islanders had scored all season. Within five minutes of the restart Eusebio's side had turned the scoreline around, Espinosa running through to beat Aragoneses, and Dani Nieto turning in Sandro's cross from close to goal, but a few minutes later Aridane picked up Ayoze's centre and cut past Planas to equalise. Recreativo meanwhile had no problems seeing off a poor Hércules side who only managed one shot at goal all evening. Visiting keeper Falcón was the busiest man on the park in the first half hour, but he could do nothing to stop a well-struck free kick from Alvaro Antón before the break. And midway through the second half Arana added the second from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Aitor. (08.09.13)

Mallorca moved off the bottom of the table after a 2-1 victory over leaders Alcorcón on Saturday evening. After three heavy defeats in a row, José Luis Oltra's side desperately needed to win to calm the nerves in the Iberostar stadium. And although new signing Dani Pacheco hit the bar for the visitors in the fourth minute, Gerard Moreno opened the scoring for the locals with a spectacular over head kick soon afterwards, the first goal that Dani Giménez has let in all season. A bad pass out by the visiting keeper allowed Moreno to score his second of the day though some ten minutes in to the second half, and although Héctor Verdés got one back with three minutes to go after Rubén Miño misjudged a high ball, the islanders held on to finally get the new campaign under way.

Mallorca's win leaves Zaragoza down in the bottom four though after the Maños lost 0-1 to Lugo. Paco Herrera's side were looking for a first victory since going down last summer, but apart from a couple of dangerous Barkero free kicks they hardly troubled José Juan throughout the first half. With an hour on the clock Rennella got on the end of a long De Coz free kick to steer a header wide of Leo Franco, and the Galicians could have added to the lead after that. Víctor Rodríguez and Sergio Cidoncha both wasted a chance to save a point however following a mistake by the visiting keeper, the former shooting against the post with the goal at his mercy, and the latter putting the follow up wide.

The other two games on Saturday both ended 1-1, with Sabadell saving a point at Alavés thanks to a late goal from Kiko Oliveras. The locals went ahead with just over a quarter of an hour gone, Viguera turning the ball in an empty net after Ion Vélez crossed in from the right following a quick breakaway, and only a couple of good saves by Nauzet prevented the ex Real Sociedad from scoring again after the restart. Goitia had to be at his best to keep out Anibal though with a couple of minutes to go, and a minute later a scramble in the goalmouth ended with the ball looping off the leg of Oliveras in to the net.

Numancia and Las Palmas also drew 1-1 later in the evening, a result which kept up the locals' unbeaten record this season, but left the Canary Islanders without a win to date. Barbosa had to keep out Vicente, Juanma and others as the home side had the better of the first half, although the first goal didn't come until twenty minutes from the end, when substitute Sergi Enrich picked up a Juanma assist to give the Soria based side the lead. With five minutes to go however the referee awarded a hotly disputed penalty to the visitors after Aythami was fouled in the area, and Nauzet converted the resulting spot kick to give his team their third draw of the season. (07.09.13)