Second Division A - Day 13

Cádiz moved up to second in the league pending Sunday's results after a 3-0 win on Saturday evening over Poli Ejido, who drop further away from the promotion spots after their seventh game without a win. The home side had already knocked their opponents out of the cup, and they got off to a good start when Pavoni headed them into the lead in the fifth minute following a corner. Abraham Paz hit the woodwork twice and Jonathan Sesma had a goal disallowed as they piled on the pressure, but the visitors came back late in the first half and De Quintana had to clear off the line from Corona before the break. Oli and Sesma combined to set up Dani Navarrete to head home a second goal after the restart though, and after Velasco was sent off for the visitors for a second booking, De Gomar rounded things off in injury time.

Xerez held on to third spot after drawing 1-1 at Lleida, who ended the weekend still two points behind their opponents. It was a lively game, and the Catalans went in front from the penalty spot five minutes before half time after Gerard fouled Santos in the area, Nakor converting the kick for his eighth goal of the season. Two minutes later though Dani Pendín got on the end of Cachorro's long free kick to head wide of Eduardo for the equaliser. Lleida threw everything forward after the break, but came up against an excellent Julio Iglesias in the visitors' goal. And after Dani Pendín was sent off for two bookings in quick succession, Iglesias made the save of the night from Rubén to ensure a point for his side.

Draw specialists Recreativo and Tenerife clocked up another point each after their match finished without goals. The home side had the better of the first half, with visiting keeper Keleman making a string of fine saves, the best of which was from Rosu. Only a free kick from Fagiani had tested Toño at the other end before the break, but he had to be on his toes in the second half to keep out efforts from Kiko Ratón. In the end though a fifth draw for both teams, who ended the weekend in mid-table. (20.11.04)


Eibar extended their lead at the top of the table to five points after beating their Basque rivals Alavés 0-2 on Sunday lunchtime. Around a thousand visiting fans helped swell the 17,000 turnout, quite a feat for a side who's home crowd wasn't much more than that in previous seasons, and they went home happy after their team put in another complete performance. The turning point came when Téllez was sent off for the locals with only twenty minutes gone, the referee showing him a second yellow card for not backing off in the face of a free kick. The league's top scorer Llorente got both goals after the break, the first somewhat fortunately when Quique Matteo's cross went in off his shoulder, and the second with a low shot past Bonano in the last minute, taking his tally for the season to eleven. The result leaves Alavés out of the top three, just a point behind Xerez. (21.11.04)


Elche moved up to fifth spot, just behind Alavés on goal difference, after drawing 2-2 at Celta. Yosu Uribe's team were two up at half time, Nano opening the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Contreras fouled Rubén, and getting a second goal later in the half after good work by Peragón. Local manager Fernando Vázquez threw on Gustavo López and Juan Sánchez at the break though, and López set up Jonathan to get a goal back twenty minutes in to the restart. With the clock running on, Sava came on as third change for the Galicians, and within minutes he had won a penalty after Unanua brought him down in the area. The keeper did manage to push out Jandro's spot kick, but Juan Sánchez was quick to react and headed the ball back into the net to saved a point for his side.

It was a weekend for draws in the second division, with seven of the eleven games ending all square. Racing Ferrol are level with Alavés and Elche after their match with Córdoba ended without goals, a good result for visiting manager Crispi, who took over this week from Roberto Fernández as the Andalusian side's third manager of the season. Despite the result there were several scoring chances, but keepers Bello Amigo and Jauregui came out on top. The best chances fell to visiting forwards Armentano and Montenegro early on, with Mario Bermejo heading wide on two occasions at the other end either side of half time. Ferrol defender Curro Vacas was sent off for a second bookable offence in the last minute.

A 0-0 draw as well between Gimnastic Tarragona and Pontevedra, the first point that the visitors have picked up in five games. They could have won it though with a little more luck, Javi Rodríguez hitting the post midway through the first half, local keeper Juanjo saving from Canabal and Salcedo after the restart and David García clearing off the line from Juan Jesús near the end. The Catalans didn't manage a shot on target all match, the nearest they came to scoring being a shot over the bar from close range by Pinilla in the second half, and their midfielder Alfonso Sánchez was sent off in injury time after picking up a second yellow card.

Nàstic's neighbours Terrassa drew 2-2 at Almería, coming from behind twice to save a point. The locals had only won once in their last six matches, but they started strongly and Nanni went close twice before Acasiete gave them the lead following a free kick on the quarter hour mark. The Catalans equalised with a Luis López penalty ten minutes before the break after Molist was fouled by Soria, but Vellisca hit the post before the half time whistle, and Ibán Espadas restored the lead with another penalty after the ex Zaragoza striker was brought down by Jordi Navas soon after the restart. Quique Martín levelled the scores again though on the hour mark from a free kick, and that was how it ended.

The match between Sporting Gijón and Ciudad Murcia also ended up all square at 2-2, substitute Arturo saving a point for the Asturians with two late goals. The visitors took the lead in the 55th minute after an eventless first half when Rivero beat Roberto with an angled shot, and local manager Marcelino decided to make three early changes, including Arturo, who had only played seven minutes all season. The Brazilian striker took advantage of his opportunity to head home an equaliser six minutes from the end, and after Rivero restored the lead for the visitors, he popped up again to save a point for his side.

Valladolid took advantage to move up the table to tenth, only three points away from the promotion spots, after beating struggling Real Murcia 0-1. Both sides had chances in the first half, Hornos wasting two early in the game for the visitors and Michel, Iván Alonso and José María all testing Bizzarri later on. Sousa got the only goal though on the half hour mark with a magnificent shot from outside of the area, and only a couple of timid efforts from Iván Alonso and Marañon caused any problems for Sergio Kresic's side. The defeat signalled the end for Manolo Preciado, who watched this game from the stands serving out a one match ban. With his side slipping further into the relegation spots, he was sacked the following day, Mario Husillos being named temporary replacement pending the appointment of a new coach.

Salamanca climbed away from the danger zone though with a 1-3 win against Málaga B, a first win in five games which saved the head of manager Felipe Miñambres. The visitors took the lead in only the third minute through Robert, and a couple of first class saves by Tom, in particular from Abel, kept them in front at the break. Miñambres brought on Gorka Brit midway through the second half and within two minutes he had extended the lead with an individualist goal. Diego Castro pulled one back soon afterwards, but Brit got a second goal in injury time to wrap up the match. (21.11.04)