Agony and Ecstasy as two more go down in la Segunda: Liga Adelante Round-Up and Highlights

By Staff Writer
Updated: 23 May, 2012

MARCA

There were highs and lows in Liga Adelante on Tuesday as the evenings two matches produced jubilation and despair in equal measures fot the sides involved.

At Montilivi, Girona secured the victory needed to guarantee Segunda football next season, as Javi Salamero’s side beat the already-demoted Villarreal B 2-1. The Catalans have had a remarkable transformation since Salamero arrived at the club in late March, with the 40-year-old steering them to safety after just one defeat in 10 games.

However,Villarreal B were also in a rich vein of form going in the match, and it was the visitors who began the game stronger. Both Lucas Porcar and Juanito went close in the opening stages as the visitors looked to take the advantage. Despite being under early pressure however, it was Girona who broke the deadlock when Albert Dorca beat Diego Mariño from the edge of the area in the 14th minute. Girona improved after the goal and should have doubled their advantage before half time as Coro was sent clear by Jandro.

Villarreal regrouped at the break and dominated possession in the second half – the reward finally coming when Moi fired in just past the hour mark. It was no more than Julio Velazquez’s side deserved but they received a huge stroke of luck soon after when Dani Nieto scuffed a six-yard effort with an open goal at his mercy, leaving Girona coach Salamero furious on the sidelines.

There was more drama to come as the game went deep into stoppage time however, as Daniel Tortolero rose well to head home from a corner and secure the points, and survival, for Girona. The win for Salamero’s men also consigned Alcoyano to relegation as they cannot now catch the Catalan side and have an inferior head-to-head with the team above them, Guadalajara.

At Córdoba‘s Nuevo Arcángel meanwhile, the home consolidated their play-off postion after a 2-0 victory over Cartagena which also consigned the Murcians to relegation heartbreak. Both teams went into the match having lost just once in five games and it was a lively opening as Córdoba took the initiative early on. After a number of spurned opportunities, the breakthrough finally came in the 20th minute when Lopez Silva danced through the Cartagena defence and fired past Reina.

Lopez Silva turned provider just four minutes later as he set up Javier Patiño to double Córdoba’s advantage and all but win the game for the hosts. Caballero was denied by the post in the second half before Cartagena’s night worsened as Mariano was sent off after picking up his second caution of the game in the 65th minute. In truth the visitors rarely threatened the home side and they now return to the third tier of Spanish football after a three-year stay in the Segunda División.
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GIRONA 2-1 VILLARREAL B

CÓRDOBA 2-0 CARTAGENA

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