El Centrocampista
Home / Highlights / And then there were Three – Villarreal B suffer an unwanted demotion: Liga Adelante Round-Up and Highlights

And then there were Three – Villarreal B suffer an unwanted demotion: Liga Adelante Round-Up and Highlights

EFE

There was much to talk about again this week in Spain’s Segunda División, as Villarreal’s shock relegation from the top flight consigned their B team to an automatic demotion to the Segunda B and reduced the relegation zone to just three more teams.

At the top, Deportivo remain on course for an instant return to la Primera after strolling to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Numancia at Los Parajitos on Saturday. The league leaders were seldom troubled by the home side and took the lead thanks to a 15th minute strike from Alex Bergantinos. Numancia had barely composed themselves before they found themselves two goals down as Tunisian international Lassad Noieoui beat Zabal to put Depor firmly in control.

The game was over as a contest less than 10 minutes into the second half when Manuel Pavon was given his marching orders after handling in the area; leaving Jose Guardado to convert the resulting penalty and send the Galician side seven points clear at the top of the table.

The race for the second automatic promotion place looks to be heading to the wire as Celta leapfrogged Valladolid thanks to a 3-0 home win over fifth-placed  Alcorcón. A brace from Iago Aspas and a Fabien Orellana effort on the stroke of half-time gave the home side the points which moved them level with Miroslav Dukic’s team; who they lead in the head-to-head results this season.

Valladolid themselves were denied victory at the death against fourth-placed Hércules, as a stoppage time own goal from Manucho gave the visitors a share of the spoils at the Jose Zorilla. Javi Guerra had given the hosts the advantage mid-way through the first half and it was a lead that looked secure until the hapless Angolan put through his own net to deny Valladolid what could prove a vital three points with just four games remaining.

Girona now find themselves two points above the drop zone after the demise of Villarreal B, and look well on course to secure their place in la Segunda for another season at least.  A Dani Nieto hat-trick and two from Ferran ‘Coro’ Corominas fired them to a 5-1 romp over shell-shocked Alcoyano at Montilivi, with the Catalans now having lost just once in seven games since coach Javi Salamero returned to the club on 25 March. They have also scored nine goals in their previous two games – making them currently one of the in-form sides in the entire division.

The hosts began the game brightly and took the lead when Nieto struck his first in the 14th minute. Coro doubled Girona’s advantage just three minutes later and Nieto grabbed his second just before half time to send the home side in at the break with a comfortable lead. Girona dominated the game and should have increased their lead before Alcoyano reduced the deficit when Gato struck from the spot with 20 minutes left to play. No sooner had the game restarted however, and Girona won a penalty of their own which was converted by Coro to restore the three goal margin. Nieto completed his hat-trick with six minutes remaining, rounding off a thoroughly impressive display from the home side who now travel to Tarragona on Wednesday night to face bottom side, Gimnástic.

Struggling Guadalajara were denied what would have been a vital victory, as Oscar Sanchez struck minutes from time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Murcia at the Nueva Condomina. The visitors began the day four points above the drop zone and knew a win would have brought them level with their hosts on 42 points. It was Murcia who struck first however, when Emilio Sanchez fired in mid-way through the first half. Iñaki Alonso’s side maintained their advantage until the hour mark when Ernesto brought Guadalajara level after beating Javi Jimenez in the Murcian goal. The visitors looked to have secured all three points when Mikael Gaffour struck eight minutes from time, however they had to settle for the point as Oscar Sanchez leveled at the death.

Almería saw their play-off hopes suffer a huge set back as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Eusebio Sacristán’s Barcelona B at the Juegos Mediterráneos; dropping below Córdoba in to seventh place in the process. The Andalucians posed little threat to their Catalan visitors in the first half and Barça went in at the break two goals up after strikes from Sergi Roberto and the excellent Gerard Deulofeu. The hosts improved after the half time but could not find a way through their opponents defence until deep into stoppage time when Jose Ortiz finally beat Jordi Masip in the Barcelona goal.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Recreativo moved above Huesca into 12th place after two goals from Javi gave them victory over the Aragonese side, and in Friday night’s games Cartagena came from behind to beat Las Palmas 2-1 in Gran Canaria while Córdoba moved back into sixth position after a 4-2 victory over bottom side Nástic at the Nuevo Arcángel

In Sunday’s games; Villarreal B won what would later prove to be an insignificant 1-0 victory over Xerez at the Chapin, while Elche salvaged a late point in a 1-1 home draw against struggling Sabadell.

 
____________________
 

CÓRDOBA 4-2 NÁSTIC

ALMERÍA 1-2 BARCELONA B

CELTA 3-0 ALCORCÓN

VALLADOLID 1-1 HÉRCULES

 

NUMANCIA 0-3 DEPROTIVO

GIRONA 5-1 ALCOYANO

MURCIA 2-2 GUADALAJARA

HUESCA 0-2 RECREATIVO

LAS PALMAS 1-2 CARTAGENA

XEREZ 0-1 VILLARREAL B

ELCHE 1-1 SABADELL

_____________________________

Videos courtesy of Acosart




You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Follow us and get La Liga news right in your feed!

Already a fan?