Second Division - Day 15

Almería moved out of the relegation spots pending the rest of the weekend games after coming from behind to beat Elche 2-1 on Friday night. Ximo Navarro turned an Edu Albacar corner in to his own net to put the visitors in front against the run of play, but with half an hour on the clock Antonio Puertas headed the equalizer from Nano’s cross. Some twelve minutes in to the second half Fidel set up Quique for the second, and any hope the visitors had of saving the result ended when Nino was sent off for stamping on Diamanka’s leg after the two players clashed near the end. (18.11.16)

Leaders Levante were beaten for the first time in ten games, although they still stay seven points clear at the top despite a 2-0 defeat at Oviedo on Saturday evening. Although the visitors had the better of the opening minutes, Linares hit the bar before the break, and with an hour on the clock Michu headed the opener after Jonathan Pereira lifted the ball across. And a few minutes later Pereira turned Christian’s centre past Raúl Fernández to take the Asturians up to fourth place. Girona are now in second spot after they beat Lugo 3-1 later in the evening, the result taking the Catalans three points clear of their opponents in the table. Borja García gave the locals the lead in the fourth minute with a clever back-heel flick from a Coris centre, but just two minutes later Carlos Hernández headed the equalizer from a corner. Portu battled through though to set up Borja García for his second of the night later on in the first half, and Alcaraz latched on to Borja’s square pass to wrap things up in injury time.

Girona move above Sevilla Atlético on goal difference after the Andalusians drew 2-2 at Mallorca. The youngsters went two up at the break, Ivi opening the scoring after Borja Lasso laid the ball back, and new signing Marc Gual poking the second past Santamaría from Pozo’s cross. However Brandon got one back after Salomao set him up on the hour mark, and with a quarter of an hour to go Lago Junior fought his way past three defenders to make it all square. The game ended in disarray however, the referee showing red cards to Sevilla’s Matos and Ivi, and to the two coaches, Diego Martínez and Fernando Vázquez. Valladolid meanwhile lost ground on the teams above them after they lost 2-1 at Numancia. Pablo Valcarce ran through to put the locals ahead in the tenth minute, but substitute Raúl de Tomás levelled the scores on a quick counter-attack just two minutes after coming on. Manu del Moral got a last minute winner though to end a run of seven games without a victory, and take the Soria based team two points clear of the drop zone. (19.11.16)

Reus end the weekend in fifth spot, just a point behind second placed Girona, after a 1-0 victory over local rivals Nàstic on Sunday lunchtime. The two neighbours had never met before at this level, and a packed Municipal stadium saw the locals have the better of play early on, Gerard in particular having to clear off the line from Edgar Hernández. Some two minutes in to the second half the visitors were left with ten men when Xavi Molina picked up a second booking, and soon afterwards Fran Carbiá headed what was to prove the only goal from Benito’s cross. The defeat left Nàstic back at the bottom of the table despite their two recent victories. Huesca drop a point below Reus to sixth after they drew 2-2 at Rayo Vallecano later in the evening. Rubén Baraja was in charge of the locals at their Vallecas stadium for the first time, but his team went behind when Borja Lázaro latched on to a Samu Sáiz assist to beat Gazzaniga with just under half an hour gone. Ebert scored twice though either side of half time to turn the scoreline around, the first from the penalty spot after Brezancic was sent off for a foul on the winger, and the second from an Alex Moreno cross, but Lázaro headed his second of the day soon afterwards to save a point for the visitors.

Only three points however separate second placed Girona from Cádiz and Getafe, currently occupying the eighth and ninth spots respectively. Cádiz clocked up their biggest win of the season after beating Alcorcón 4-1, the result leaving the Madrid based side back down in the relegation zone. The visitors took an early lead though Bellvis though, and it was only when Rafa Páez was sent off at the start of the second half that the Andalusians came back. Half time substitute Abdullah set up Ortuño to level the scores, and strikes by Aitor, Salvi and Ortuño in the last quarter of an hour gave the locals the win. Getafe meanwhile beat Zaragoza 1-0, another set-back for the Maños who drop a point below their hosts in the table after a first loss under new coach Raúl Agné. Both teams had chances, but a goal-less draw seemed to be on the cards until three minutes from the end when Bagnack fouled Jorge Molina, who tucked away the resulting penalty.

Tenerife are now a point behind Zaragoza after they won 2-1 against UCAM Murcia. Collantes put the visitors in front with an individualist effort in only the second minute. However Cristo took advantage of a defensive mistake to square the match midway through the first half, and with the interval approaching Amath latched on to Cristo’s back-heel pass to make it two. Córdoba are level with the Canary Islanders after they drew 1-1 at struggling Mirandés, and coach José Luis Oltra is under pressure after an eighth game without a win. The locals had also gone two months without a victory though, and although Pedro Martín opened the scoring midway through the first half from a Bustos centre, Juli equalized for the visitors with a shot from the edge of the area after the break. Mirandés drop into the bottom four as a result, level with Rayo and Alcorcón, and a point UCAM, who are now in next to bottom place. (20.11.16)