Depor slip up as chasing pack close the gap: Liga Adelante Round-Up and Highlights

By Staff Writer
Updated: 21 May, 2012

EFE

Deportivo la Coruña were forced to put the the promotion champagne on ice on Sunday evening after falling to a 3-2 defeat to mid-table Xerez at el estadio de Chapín.

Jose Luis Oltra’s league leaders knew victory in Jerez could seal a quick return to Spain’s top flight; if Valladolid also lost to Sabadell in the day’s final game, however they enjoyed the worst possible start as ‘Tati’ Maldonado put the home side ahead with less than two minutes on the clock.

The visitors where soon back on level terms as Lassad fired in his 12th goal of the season seven minute later and when the Tunisian international got his second to put Depor ahead soon after the break, it looked as if the Galicians were on their way to securing all three points. It was not to be however, as veteran Jesus Mendoza grabbed a quick-fire equaliser and Maldonado struck the winner 10 minutes from time. Depor now face a nervy run- in as they sit just four points above Celta and Valladolid with three games still to play.

In the weekend’s final game, Valladolid were pushed all the way in their 2-0 victory over Sabadell at the Jose Zorilla. The hosts broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark when Peña netted after good work from Víctor Pérez. Sabadell made Valladolid work for the victory however, and the points were not guaranteed until deep into stoppage time, when Nauzet Aleman beat Ian McKay in the Catalan side’s goal.

In Sunday other encounter, Nástic joined already-demoted Villarreal B in relegation to the Segunda B as they managed a spirited yet futile 2-2 draw at Murcia. The Catalans knew nothing other than victory would do after wins for Girona and Guadalajara on Saturday but they ultimately fell short, despite taking the lead at the Nuevo Condomina. The lead lasted just four minutes however as Cristian Garcia’s 64th minute strikes cancelled out Alex Ortiz’s penalty on the hour mark.

Murcia then went ahead with 20 minutes to play as Borja fired past Ruben Perez but the visitors were given hope when Roberto Peragón drew the sides level again less than 90 seconds later. There was to be no comeback however, and the final whistle saw Nástic drop into the third tier of Spanish football just five years after featuring in the top flight.

On Saturday, Almería gave themselves a play-off lifeline after securing a crucial 2-0 victory over third-placed Alcorcón at the estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.

The Andalusians had experienced a terrible run of form going into the match, having won just once in the previous 13 league games, while their visitors Alcorcón knew victory would secure their place in the end-of-season promotion play-offs.

Both sides created chances, with the visitors in particular guilty of squandering a number of opportunities to take the initiative.Despite an entertaining encounter, the deadlock was not broken until the 76th minute when Jonathan Sunday Zongo finished of a fine flowing counte-rattack from Almería to stroke the ball past Manu Herrera in the Alcorcón goal.

The hosts continued to push forward after the goal and should have doubled the advantage before Zongo struck his second in stoppage time to secure the three points for Almería. Jose Luis Oltra’s men are now three points from Córdoba in sixth place, with three games left to play.

Córdoba went down to a comprehensive 3-1 defeat against a resurgent Girona at Montilivi, a result that puts the Catalans just one point from securing their survival in Spain’s second tier for another season.

Javi Salamero’s side enjoyed the perfect start to the game and were two goals up after just seven minutes thanks to strikes from Dani Nieto and Coro. Cordoba rarely threatened the Girona goal but were handed a way back into the game with 15 minutes remaining as the referee gave a penalty against David Garcia, and Pepe Diaz subsequently converted for the visitors.

Cordoba thought they had grabbed an equaliser minutes from time when Javier Patino headed in only for the goal to be ruled out when the forward was adjudged to have fouled Garcia before putting the ball in the net. The misery was compounded for Cordoba moments later when Jandro was allowed space to run into the peanly area and slot a a sublime finish past Prieto to give Girona a much-deserved victory.

Results elsewhere also went the way of the Catalan side as the teams immediately below them in the relegation zone both lost. Alcoyano went down to a 4-0 loss at send place Celta Vigo while Cartagena were sunk by a Mario Rosas strike four minutes before half time against Huesca.

Celta rarely got out of second gear as they dispatched a poor Alcoyano side 4-0 at the Balaidos. With leaders Depor and third-placed valladolid not playing until Sunday, Celta knew they had the opportunity to strengthen their play-off position and took just two minutes to take the lead when Alex Lopez struck a rasping 30-yard effort past Juan Pina in the visitors goal.

Celta doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Iago Aspas rounded Pina to put into an empty goal, and the Galicians dominated with some spells of neat football. Antonio Canadas had Alcoyano’s best effort when he forced Alvarez into a good save mid-way through the second half but it was the home side who wrapped the points up when Lopez got his second with quarter of an hour left. Fabien Orellana then finished the route when he beat Pina from close range and the agony was furthered for the Alcoyano goalkeeper when he was sent off seven minutes from the end.

Fifth-placed Hércules had a day to forget in Gran Canaria as they had two men sent off during a 2-0 defeat to Las Palmas. The side from Alicante knew a victory coupled with a loss for Almeria would clinch their place in the play-offs, however they found themselves behind after just six minutes when Sergio Suarez fire in for the Islanders. Things got worse for Hércules just past the hour mark when Tiago Gomez was sent off after picking up his second caution of the game, and Javi Guerrero finished the scoring with three minutes remaining when he beat Falcon. The visitors were reduced to nine men in stoppage when David Aganzo was shown his second yellow card.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Villarreal B won their fourth game from five after goals from Florian Lejeune and Moises gave them a 2-0 home victory over Recreativo, Numancia leapfrogged Barcelona B and Elche into eighth place after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Barça at Los Pajaritos. Elche meanwhile fell to a 3-2 home defeat to Guadalajara who have now secured their segunda status after the crucial victory.

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NUMANCIA 3-0 BARCELONA B

ELCHE 2-3 GUADALAJARA

ALMERÍA 2-0 ALCORCÓN

GIRONA 3-1 CÓRDOBA

HUESCA 1-0 CARTAGENA

CELTA 4-0 ALCOYANO

LAS PALMAS 2-0 HÉRCULES

VILLARREAL B 2-0 RECREATIVO

MURCIA 2-2 GIMANÁSTIC

XEREZ 3-2 DEPORTIVO

VALLADOLID 2-0 SABADELL