Segunda Roundup, Jornada 3

After three weeks of play only two teams in the Segunda have perfect records--Elche and Almeria. The illicitanos have started strongly and took apart Las Palmas 3-1. Midfielder Xumetra scored his third goal in three games; Fidel and Etxeita added the others. The islanders picked up six yellow cards in the fourteen minutes remaining after Elche's third goal, which indicates some sort of spirit, I guess! Elche have an early kickoff next Sunday in Cordoba--that should be a tough test.

Almeria, meanwhile, also won at home, Leo Ulloa scoring the only goal midway through the first half to defeat Real Madrid Castilla. Defender Pellerano picked up his second yellow with ten minutes remaining, but Castilla couldn't make the numerical advantage pay off. Next up for Almeria is a trip to the potato field at Sabadell.

Villarreal is joined on seven points by Girona and Real Murcia. The Catalan side defeated our next opponents, Ponferradina, 1-0 at Montilivi and travel to Hercules next week, usually a tough place to play. The Paprika Boys, meanwhile, triumphed over Huesca, 2-1. Note that all five of the top teams have had two home matches, so all are on the road this week; Murcia travel down to Recre.

Mirandés got off the zero points mark with a 4-0 thumping of Xerez in sherry country, with everyone's favorite banker, Pablo Infante, scoring two goals. Look for them to put away Numancia this Saturday at Anduva and move up the table.

Wonderful scenes but turgid football at the Sardinero as Racing Santander and Sporting Gijon honored the late Manolo Preciado before the match. Neither team could find the net, though the 0-0 draw at least gives each of these relegated clubs their first points of the season. Racing have obtained USMNT man Carlos Bocanegra on loan from Rangers until the end of this season, and he should debut at Huesca this Sunday. First Rangers, now Racing; he has a knack for picking clubs with murky ownership and financial chaos, doesn't he!

The colista after three weeks is Hercules, who lost at Alcorcon, 1-0 and have scored only one goal in three matches. Ex-Villarreal B man Pere Sastre started and played the entire match for them again this week, by the way. They have some good players, and brought in Toti, Jeffrey Sarpong and Edu Bedia on loans as the transfer window closed, but in the absence of their three leading scorers last year-- Urko Vera, Carlos Calvo, and Michel--where the goals come from has to be a concern for coach Juan Mandia.

Results:

Girona 1-0 Ponferradina

Elche 3-1 LasPalmas

Lugo 1-1 Cordoba

Real Murcia 2-1 Huesca

Numancia 0-0 Recreativo Huelva

Xerez 0-4 Mirandes

Villarreal 2-1 Guadalajara

Almeria 1-0 Real Madrid Castilla

Racing Santander 0-0 Sporting Gijon

Alcorcon 1-0 Hercules

Barcelona B 2-0 Sabadell