DEPOR STAY TOP AS ELCHE FALL AGAIN – La Segunda Review

By Martin Devlin
Updated: 27 January, 2012

An enthralling encounter at El Collao marked the start of Week 21 in the Segunda Division. Alcoyano and Almeria slugged out a 2-2 draw on Friday night, which saw the hosts rescue a point late on.

Heavily fancied Almeria took the lead inside 10 minutes; top marksman Jose Ulloa added to his impressive hat-trick against Guadalajara last week by firing Lucas Alcaraz’s side in front. Ulloa sits SEatop the scoring chart with a haul of 17 goals to date. Alcoyano limited his chances however, and put on a display which defied the 11 league places between the two sides going into this fixture.

They were rewarded shortly before the hour mark, when Manuel Gato levelled things up. However, the visitors pressed and reclaimed the advantage just three minutes later.

Henok Goitom got his name on the scoresheet last week, and repeated the trick by netting here – proving that he and Ulloa are a pairing to be reckoned with. Credit must go to David Porras’ side though for continuing to battle, and Wellington Silva scored with six minutes remaining to ensure a share of the spoils.

Deportivo ended the first half of the season on top of the pile with a 1-0 win against Villarreal B at the Riazor. However, they were made to work for their victory by a spirited Yellow Submarine side who played most of the second half a man light following Kiko’s straight red card.

The home side had climbed to the summit last week, and consolidated their place atop the Segunda when Florian Lejeune’s second half own goal proved to be the only score in this match.

However, going into their next fixture against lowly Cartagena, manager Jose Luis Oltra will be hoping for an improved performance, especially with a host of clubs breathing down their necks.

Josu Uribe’s first match in charge of struggling Girona saw them claim a point against eighth-placed Murcia in Catalonia. Uribe, who replaced Raul Agne last week following Girona’s tenth league defeat, might well feel aggrieved after an own-goal ensured that his side did not get more out of this performance.

Jandro put the hosts up after 12 minutes, but the unfortunate Dani Mallo put through his own net after the half hour mark to level the score. However, with only three points separating Girona from 17^th place, the new man in charge may have seen enough of his charges to feel that they can escape the relegation zone.

A change of manager may be the spark needed to lift their fortunes. Murcia will see this an an opportunity missed to leapfrog Cordoba into sixth and reignite their playoff ambitions.

In what was without doubt the shock result of the day, Gimnastic welcomed Elche to Tarragona, and promptly sent them packing with a 1-0 win for the hosts. The Catalan basement side took the lead when Alvaro Rey netted on 26 minutes and they refused to relinquish that advantage, successfully frustrating Pepe Bordalas’ high-flyers.

This result meant Elche slipped two places to fourth and, although Nastic remain in last place, this display against the promotion chasers will fill their squad with hope for the second half of the campaign.

Valladolid shook off more speculation of their financial state and kept up the pressure on leaders Deportivo with a dominant performance on the road against Guadalajara. For all their possession, Miroslav Djukic’s Pucela only had a one-goal cushion going into the break, courtesy of Oscar shortly after the half hour mark.

However, the visitors upped the pace following the restart and Jofre doubled their lead ten minutes into the second period. Nauzet Aleman capped the scoring five minutes later with a penalty. This win, coupled with Elche’s unexpected defeat in Tarragona, saw Valladolid move up to the automatic promotion places and are only three points off top spot.

Alcorcon and Numancia shared the spoils in a pulsating encounter at the Santo Domingo, which saw the visitors fight back from two goals down and withstand a heavy onslaught from their opponents.

Paco Montanes had given the hosts an early lead through Paco Montanes, before Miguelez netted for the second consecutive game to put Alcorcon in a commanding position at the break.

However, shortly into the second half Juanjo replied for Numancia to spark a revival. It was Juanjo again with less than twenty minutes remaining who levelled things up, but the action was not finished there.

Alcorcon were not giving up without a fight and pressed hard for a winner, but Pablo Machin’s side were resolute in defence and left with a thoroughly deserved point.

Las Palmas travelled to Sabadell having convincingly beaten Barcelona B in last week’s fixture. They emerged with a draw, but will count themselves lucky to have done so.

The Sabulluts took the lead when Florian fired in after quarter of an hour. Neither team seemed to take a command of the play and it looked increasingly like the Catalan side were on their way to victory when their guests saw David Gonzalez sent off for his second bookable offence. However, the team from the Canary Islands snatched a late equaliser through Juan Pedro Ramirez Lopez.

Hercules put the disappointment of last week’s shock defeat at Xerez behind them to see off Huesca at the Jose Rico Perez stadium. However, they were made to work for their win and it was not until just after an hour had gone before Samuel Llorca fashioned the breakthrough.

Tote made the scoreline a little more flattering to the hosts with a goal three minutes from time, but manager Juan Carlos Mandia will expect a little more from his troops ahead of next Saturday’s visit to Villarreal B.

Cartagena moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a comfortable 3-1 win over Recreativo in Murcia. A Juan Collantes brace either side of a Nicolas Raimondi strike ensured the hosts were cruising, and Bonaque consolation failed to throw the Albinegros off their rythmn. A confident display from Cartagena to move them up two places and a point clear of the drop zone while Recre dropped one place to mid-table.

Celta Vigo fell further behind in the title race with a stalemate on the road at Cordoba. However, rather than view it as two points dropped, the Galicians may count themselves fortunate to have picked up a draw as the home side peppered the Celta goal throughout the course of the game.

The Andalusians took the game to their opponents early on, but found the Celta defence in stingy form.

Eusebio Sacristan’s Barcelona B jumped two places into the mid-point of the table, following a comfortable victory over Xerez at the Mini Estadi. The Xerecistas had produced a shock last week, knocking off high-flyers Hercules at home, but found their Catalan opponents a different proposition. A goal in each half saw Barca B take maximum points.

Christian Tello opened the scoring, and was unlucky not to double his tally after the break. However, a Rodri strike shortly before the hour mark sealed the points.

DEPOR STAY TOP AS ELCHE FALL AGAIN – La Segunda Review

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