Super Depor are back!: Liga Adelante Round-Up

By Staff Writer
Updated: 28 May, 2012

L. Vázquez (Marca)

Deportivo la Coruña ensured their stay in the Segunda Division lasted just one season as they beat Huesca 2-1 on Sunday evening to clinch the league title and promotion back to Spain’s top flight.

The Galicians knew victory would be enough to secure the crown with one game yet to play, and a bumper crowd packed into the Riazor to see José Luis Oltra’s side take on their visitors from Aragon.

Depor took little time to burst into action and the game with less than 30 seconds old when Bruno Gama whipped a dangerous cross into the Huesca area, to issue a statement of intent.

There was an electric atmosphere inside the ground and the home fans were further buoyed when Riki and Lassad both tested Luis Garcia in the Huesca goal as the hosts looked for the early breakthrough. An animated Quique Hernandez berated the visitors as they showed little spark in the opening exchanges – hardly unexpected as Huesca are guaranteed a mid-place finish already. As the game wore on however, the away side edged back into the encounter and the Depor were left stunned when Antonio Nuñez raced clear of the defence in the 33rd minute to calmly beat Aranzubia and give Huesca the lead.

The hosts almost went further behind moments later after good work from Larena, and tension began to spread around the ground. Depor finally got themselves back on level terms however when Riki fired in five minutes before the break and the Riazor was sent into raptures.

The second half was one-way traffic as Oltra’s men looked for the crucial goal that would give them the title. Lassad, Riki and Bruno Gama all went close but the winning goal finally cam from substitute Xisco, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes.

There were joyous scenes at the final whistle as Deportivo return to the Primera Division 12 months after the heartbreak of their final day 2-0 home loss to Valencia.

In the race for the remaining automatic promotion place, Celta Vigo moved into pole position after beating bottom side Nástic 2-1 in Tarragona. Celta now need just one point from their home game against Córdoba next week to join their Galician rivals in a return to the top division.

Iago Aspas gave the visitors the perfect start to the game as he fired in from the penalty spot with less than five minutes gone on the clock. Natxo Insa doubled Celta’s advantage deep into stoppage time and they could have added to the lead before Longas scored a consolation for the home side 12 minutes from time.

Third placed Valladolid saw their automatic promotion hopes suffer a major blow as the let a two goal lead slip against Alcorcón to leave Santo Domingo with a share of the points. The visitors looked to be on their way to the crucial victory when a brace from Nauzet Aleman gave them a two goal advantage as the game went into its final half hour, however the home side set up a grandstand finish when Montañés reduced the deficit with 20 minutes to play.

With the visitors now hanging on for the points, second-half substitute Saúl Berjón struck with five minutes remaining to leave Valladolid now hoping Córdoba can beat Celta next week and they can overcome Guadalajara at the Jose Zorilla.

Almería go into the final day of the season still hopeful of a chance in the play-offs after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Guadalajara. The Andaluz side now sit just two points behind sixth-placed Hércules who could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Xerez. They also lie just three points behind Alcorcón and Córdoba who they have better head-to-head results over.

Córdoba also won on Sunday, beating Murcia 2-1 at el Nuevo Arcangel to leapfrog Hércules into fifth position.

Elsewhere, Numancia consigned Sabadell to their fifth defeat in seven games after a comfortable 3-1 triumph in Catalunya, already-relegated Alcoyano gave their home fans something to cheer about as they strolled to a 4-0 win over Elche, Girona played out a goal-less stalemate with Recreativo and second-bottom Cartagena thumped Villarreal B 6-2 at Cartagonova.

In Saturday’s only game, Barcelona B beat Las Palmas 2-0 at the mini estadi thanks to goals from Kiko Femenía and Rafinha.

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DEPORTIVO 2-1 HUESCA

NÁSTIC 1-2 CELTA

GUADALAJARA 0-1 ALMERÍA

SABADELL 1-3 NUMANCIA

CORDOBA 2-1 MURCIA

ALCORCÓN 2-2 VALLADOLID

HÉRCULES 2-2 XEREZ

CARTAGENA 6-2 VILLARREAL B

GIRONA 0-0 RECREATIVO

ALCOYANO 4-0 ELCHE

BARCELONA B 2-0 LAS PALMAS