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Match Report

Last straw for Jimenez

Sevilla draws with Xerez

03/24/2010 12:07:02 AM

Sevilla has sacked its coach Manolo Jimenez following a 1-1 draw with Xerez.

Xerez snatched an unlikely point in second-half injury-time away to its Andalusian rivals to leave a huge dent in the hosts' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Sevilla crashed out of Europe's premier club competition last week following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to CSKA Moscow, and their chances of re-joining the continent's elite was dealt a big blow as Leandro Gioda levelled in added time.

The home side, although far from convincing, had looked set to claim the three points thanks to Frederic Kanoute's 62nd-minute penalty.

But Xerez threw men forward at the death and finally got their reward, even though a single point leaves them stranded at the bottom of the table.

Nevertheless, the visitors will have been more pleased than the hosts, who remain in fifth place and could find themselves four points off the Champions League places tomorrow night if Mallorca win at Racing Santander.

Following their Champions League exit last week, Sevilla had looked utterly depressed on Saturday night, when they went down 2-0 at Espanyol.

Xerez beat Tenerife that same evening to give their remote hopes of survival a boost, although Nestor Gorosito's men remained rock bottom, eight points behind 17th-placed Zaragoza.

The club's recent form is improved, though, and they will have fancied their chances against an out-of-sorts Sevilla.

The hosts' superior quality showed early on in this match, however.

Ndri Romaric volleyed just over the crossbar for the home side after eight minutes as Sevilla started stronger.

But Xerez came close eight minutes later when Momo flashed a venomous shot across goal.

And the visitors went even closer shortly afterwards, when Gioda saw his effort hacked off the line by Marius Stankevicius.

The hosts were looking shaky, but began to dominate as the half wore on.

Adriano curled a lovely effort just wide nine minutes before the break, while Alvaro Negredo should have done better from close-range moments prior to the interval.

The teams went in on level terms and that was about fair on the balance of play.
The second half also saw chances for both sides.

Renato came close for Sevilla after 49 minutes, but Xerez should have gone ahead moments later, when Mario Bermejo took the ball around Andres Palop only to fire wide with the goal at his mercy.

Having survived that scare, Sevilla won a penalty after 62 minutes when Sidi Keita brought down Adriano.

And Kanoute, who had earlier replaced fellow former Spur Didier Zokora, despatched the spot-kick with ease to give Sevilla the lead.

The hosts' lead looked in little danger as the game wore on, but Xerez had nothing to lose and threw men forward late on.

And it paid off well into added time, when Gioda pounced on a loose ball in the area to scramble home from close-range after Sevilla had failed to clear their lines.

It was only a point, but it gives Xerez added hope of an improbable escape, while Sevilla were left frustrated again and there were renewed calls for the departure of coach Manolo Jimenez on the final whistle.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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