Friday, May 18th, 2012
Main Game:
Deportivo La Coruña 3-1 UD Almería
Deportivo La Coruña beat Almería in the Segunda Friday night game to move up to 5th place, both teams set up with a 4-2-3-1 formation. The opening stages were frustrating as both teams got into good positions but their passing was poor. Álex Bergantiños had the first chance of the game but he could only head Guardado’s free kick wide. Esteban produced a fine left handed save to deny Colotto in the 24th minute, Esteban was busy again in the 30th minute as he grabbed Guardado’s left footed shot at the second attempt. Almería first sight at goal came from a Ulloa header after a good Dani Bautista cross, Aranzubia denied Ulloa brilliantly after 36 minutes. Depor were awarded a penalty in injury time in the first half after Bernardello handled inside the box. Guardado stepped up and drilled into Esteban’s bottom right corner to give Depor a 1-0 lead at half time.
Depor doubled their lead in the second half after Laure found Dominguez in the area with a through ball and he turned and placed the ball into the net. In the 56th minute Depor won another penalty after Dani Bautista handled but replays show it happened just outside the box. Lassad scored by hitting it straight down the middle. Almería dominated possession from then on and struggled to trouble Depor until Henok Goitom’s introduction. In the 78th minute Depor’s Ze Castro got into an argument with manager Jose Luis Oltra, which resulted in Oltra subbing the centre back immediately; Ze Castro walked straight down the tunnel in anger. Ulloa got a goal back on 84 minutes for Almería as he finished from the edge of the area after Goitom’s back heel pass. Minutes later Ulloa shot narrowly wide with an overhead kick, had it gone in, it would have gave Almería hope of a comeback.
Deportivo La Coruña starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Aranzubia; Laure, Colotto, Ze Castro, Ayoze; Álex Bergantiños, Juan Domínguez; Bruno Gama, Valerón, Guardado; Lassad
Almería starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Esteban; Míchel, Carlos García, Jakobsen, Dani Bautista; Bernardello, Verza; Rafita, Soriano, Aleix Vidal; Ulloa
My man of the match: Juan Carlos Valeron of Deportivo. Despite being 36 years old, Valeron still has that eye for a pass that he did back when he was in his prime. He controlled the tempo and feed Guardado and Bruno Gama with quality throughout.
Saturday’s Matches
Guadalajara (ESP) 3-1 Córdoba CF
Guadalajara beat play-off contenders 3-1 at home to record their first league win in six games. Rodri opened the scoring for the hosts in the 30th minute and Ernesto quickly added a second in the 33rd minute. Anibal made the points safe with twenty minutes left before Pepe Diaz grabbed a consolation in the 90th minute for the visitors.
AD Alcorcón 1-0 Girona FC
10 men Alcorcón put back-to-back league defeats behind them to narrowly beat Girona at home. Exposito was given his marching orders for the home side in the 39th minute. Tortolero gave the home side the lead as he put the ball through his won net on 56 minutes.
Barcelona B 2-1 Celta de Vigo
Two sides with contrasting form met in this one and it ended with Barca B condemning Celta to a third league defeat in a row. Jonathan Soriano’s brace either side of De Lucas’ 55th minute goal secured the win.
CD Alcoyano 0-0 Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic made it four games unbeaten and four clean sheets in a row since Jorge D’Alessandro took over, this time around it was a 0-0 draw vs. Alcoyano.
FC Cartagena 0-0 Real Valladolid
2nd placed Valladolid dropped two points away at bottom of the table Cartagena. Valladolid dominated throughout yet couldn’t open up a stubborn Cartagena, Oscar going close when he struck the bar in he first half.
Recreativo Huelva 1-2 Xerez CD
Xerez earned just their 2nd win in twelve league game to move up to 15th place, Israel and Tato done the damage with goals in the 55th and 57th minute respectively. Enrich Ametller got a goal back for Recreativo after 75 minutes but Xerez held out for the win.
SD Huesca 2-0 UD Las Palmas
Huesca defeated Las Palmas to move off the bottom of the table. Las Palmas goalie Barbosa was sent off in the 37th minute, giving Camacho the chance from the penalty spot which he converted confidently. Striker Roberto doubled Huesca’s lead in the 56th minute.
Villarreal B 0-0 CD Numancia
An unusual result in this one as the team whose games have contained the most goals in the Segunda, Villarreal were held to a scoreless draw. Numancia will be happy with this result as they extended their unbeaten run too six league games.
Sunday’s Matches
Hércules CF 1-2 Elche CF
Elche beat top of the table Hércules 2-1 on Sunday to move too 4th in the league. That’s Hércules 3rd defeat in four league games as they continue to struggle. Albacar opened the scoring for Elche from the penalty spot in the 18th minute. Nicki Bille added a 2nd for the visitors after 33 minutes. Michel gave the home side hope in the 70th minute to make it 2-1 but Elche held on despite Berenguer being sent off in injury time.
CE Sabadell 2-2 Real Murcia
These two shared 8th position going into this game and they still do after a 2-2 draw. Lanzarote made it 1-0 to Sabadell after just 14 minutes, Pedro equalised minutes before half time for Murcia. Murcia defender Jorge gave them the lead just minutes into the second half before Molinaro was given his marching orders with 30 minutes remaining. Nabil Baha grabbed Sabadell a share of the spoils with a goal in the 81st minute.
Tags: Almeria, Deportivo La Coruña, Elche, Hércules
