Sevilla fire Jimenez

MADRID: Spanish Primera Liga club Sevilla confirmed on Wednesday they have sacked under-fire coach Manolo Jimenez following a string of poor results. “Sevilla’s administrative board dismissed Manolo Jimenez on Tuesday,” the club said in a statement, adding that Ramon Tejada, the club’s reserve team coach, will stand in until a replacement has been found. Sevilla drew 1-1 at home to Xerez on Tuesday, meaning they have failed to win any of their last seven matches in all competitions and sit a point behind fourth-placed Real Mallorca.

Werder in Cup final

BERLIN: Holders Werder Bremen beat Augsburg 2-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the German Cup final. Goals in either half from the first division club’s Marko Marin and Claudio Pizarro put paid to their second division rivals and set up a meeting in the May 15 final with the winners of second semi-final between Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich. — AFP

Singh withdraws

ORLANDO: Vijay Singh has withdrawn from the $6 million US PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational, the second week in a row a sore back has sidelined the three-time major champion from Fiji. Singh shared fourth at Miami earlier this month and 11th at the World Golf Championships CA Championship two weeks ago at Doral. Sweden’s Carl Pettersson replaced Singh in the field of 120 that tee off Thursday at the key tuneup event for next month’s Masters.

Taylor leaves hospital

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle defender Steven Taylor left hospital on Tuesday after being admitted with a reported broken jaw following an alleged training ground bust-up with team-mate Andy Carroll. Taylor was admitted to hospital last weekend, having spent the last two months recovering from a knee injury. Taylor is not expected to play again this season. Carroll, 21, faces a court appearance next month on an assault charge in connection with a separate incident at a nightclub in the city.