Valladolid stun Depor at the death as the top two do battle: Liga Adelante Round-Up and Highlights

By Staff Writer
Updated: 7 May, 2012

EFE

Real Valladolid grabbed a dramatic stoppage time equaliser at the Riazor on Sunday evening as Manucho gave Miroslac Dukic’s side a share of the spoils against leaders Deportivo la Coruña.

The Angolan forward’s 93rd minute effort was no more than the visitors deserved after they denied José Luis Oltra’s men what would have been a record 14th consecutive home league victory. Second-placed Valladolid travelled to Galicia looking to close the gap on their hosts to just two points and they began the game well. However it was the home side who drew first blood midway through the first half when Lassad was hauled down in the area by goalkeeper Jaime, leaving Mexican Jose Andres Guardado to fire in his 10th league goal of the season from the spot.

Despite going behind, Valladolid fought back well and created a number of chances before the break. Dukic’s side continued to dominate possession during the second half and again created a string of chances, which they failed to capitalise on. As the game drifted into stoppage time however, Manucho popped up to rifle home past German Lux in the Depor goal.

Deportivo remain five points clear at the top of the table and look well on course for an instant return to the top flight. Valladolid meanwhile, sit just three points clear of third-placed Celta Vigo.

Girona moved to within four points of safety after a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Guadalajara on Saturday; the side that sit just one place above them in the table. Javi Salamero’s team are now unbeaten in four games and have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop into the Segunda B after four seasons in Spain’s second tier. Coro put the Catalans ahead in the 13th minute before doubling their advantage on the stroke of half-time when he beat Saizar in the Guadalajara goal.

The home side reduced the deficit when Jonan scored less than 60 seconds after the restart but they could not find the elusive equaliser, despite dominating for long spells of the second half. As Guadalajara looked to level, it was Girona who got the crucial third goal as Coro completed a memorable hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining. Jandro then fired in a fourth deep into stoppage time to end a miserable day for Carlos Terrazas and his side who have now lost 14 of their last 19 games.

Alcorcón continued their impressive form as goals from Jean-Sylvain Babin, Borja and Francisco Montañes consolidated fifth place after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Real Murcia at Santo Domingo. The home side dominated the game and have now won six out of seven games since losing 3-2 to Barcelona B in mid-March. Iñaki Alonso’s Murcia meanwhile, have picked up just nine points from a possible 45 and sit just seven points above the drop zone.

Third-placed Celta maintained the pressure on top two after Fabian Orellana struck 14 minutes from time to give them a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sabadell at the Nova Creu Alta. The visitors broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark when Alex Lopez fired past David De Navas before Agustin Fernandez brought the home side level 10 minutes after the break. Both teams pushed forward in search a the victory but it was the Galicians who finally got the breakthrough when Orellana scored a spectacular winner in the 76th minute.

Sixth-placed Almería travelled to Alicante looking to close the gap on fourth-placed Hércules at the Jose Rico Perez. The Andalucians went into the match on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over leaders Deportivo last weekend, however this was their only triumph in their previous 10 league matches. In contrast, their hosts were in scintillating form and were looking for a fifth straight victory. In truth however, neither side looked capable of breaking the deadlock and their were few chances in a tense and sometimes listless 0-0 stalemate.

It was honours even in Friday night’s game, as Aloyano and Córdoba fought out an exciting six-goal thriller at El Collao. The home side raced into a two goal lead after strikes from Wellington and Gato, before Borja pulled one back for Córdoba just before the break. The score remained at 2-1 until 15 minutes from time when Diego Jimenez’s effort looked to have won the game for Alcoyano. However Pepe Diaz struck moments later to set up a tense finale and with just three minutes remaining, Diaz hit his second of the game to earn Cordoba a well-deserved point; keeping them in seventh place.

Elsewhere at the weekend, first half goals from Braulio and Abraham Paz gave bottom side Cartagena a 2-1 home win over Numancia at the Estadio Cartagonova. Huesca leapt above Xerez into 12th place after beating Vicente Moreno’s side 2-1 at El Alcoraz, Las Palmas thumped Villarreal B 4-1 and Recreativo scored deep into second-half stoppage time on to rescue a 2-2 draw against relegation candidates Nástic.

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ALCOYANO 3-3 CÓRDOBA