LEVERKUSEN, Germany -- Bayer Leverkusen fired Sami Hyypia as coach Saturday after an alarming mid-season slump and turned to the Finns former coaching partner Sascha Lewandowski to secure Champions League qualification. Custom Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys . The Bundesliga club said in a statement that the former Liverpool defender Hyypia was being released "with immediate effect" following Fridays 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Hamburger SV. Lewandowski stepped back to resume coaching Leverkusens youth side after securing Champions League qualification with Hyypia last season. He has been charged with securing at least fourth place in the Bundesliga to repeat the feat this time around. "He helped us out in a critical situation once before when he worked alongside Sami Hyypia following the release of Robin Dutt," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. "Were firmly convinced he will succeed again." Leverkusen previously drew with bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig and is in danger of losing fourth place, with both Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in a position to overtake on Saturday. "This decision was more than difficult because Sami did a brilliant job over the last two years," Voeller said. Leverkusen was second at one point in the Bundesliga but had a severe change in fortune after the winter break with only three wins from 12 league games this year. It has also endured humiliating losses to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup. "What he and his coaching staff achieved with the team in the first half of the season was well beyond expectations and earned him praise from all sides," Voeller said. "Thats why the current slump is even more painful for us. The dramatic events of the last few weeks leave us no other choice but to bring about a separation. We want to and have to try everything to save the season." Assistant coach Jan-Moritz Lichte was also released. "Its not an easy situation for me now to take Samis place," Lewandowski said. "We had responsibility for this team together for more than a year. So you cant take over without regret that the former partner couldnt realize his dreams." Kicker magazine said that Thomas Schaaf (former Werder Bremen coach), Markus Weinzierl (Augsburg), Armin Veh (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Jos Luhukay (Hertha Berlin) are all possible candidates to take over from next season. Hyypia is the seventh coach to lose his job in the Bundesliga this season, following the dismissals of Bruno Labbadia and his successor Thomas Schneider at Stuttgart, Thorsten Fink and his successor Bert van Marwijk at Hamburger SV, Michael Wiesinger at Nuremberg and Mirko Slomka at Hannover. Kevin Garnett Jersey . Weise will have his hearing with the NHL head office over the phone, while the league has requested an in-person hearing with Kassian. Oilers centre Sam Gagner suffered a broken jaw after getting hit with a high stick from Kassian in Edmontons 5-2 win. Justin Patton Jersey . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring. http://www.basketballtimberwolvesshop.com/Cheap-Andrew-Wiggins-Timberwolves-Jersey/ .com) - The Toronto Blue Jays will look to snap a three-game skid Friday night when they continue their road trip in the opener of a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.PORTLAND, Ore. - Each time that LaMarcus Aldridge went to the free-throw line late in the game against the Washington Wizards, the Trail Blazers forward was showered with a chant of MVP, MVP, from the hometown fans.Just two days before, Aldridge had announced he was going to have surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb and would miss the next six to eight weeks.But in a dramatic turn, he announced Saturday that hed play through the pain. And hours later, he had 26 points and nine rebounds in the Blazers 103-96 victory over the Wizards.Even the public address announcer at the Moda Center beckoned the crowd to cheer him for a curtain call as he finally left the court.Im not into the rah-rah story, Aldridge said. I just wanted to come back and play. I wanted to test it out at home, and versus these guys because I felt they were a physical team, and if I could play against these guys then that would be good. And I was OK.Damian Lillard added 20 points and seven assists as the Blazers snapped two-game losing streak.Tied at 79 midway through the fourth quarter, Wesley Matthews made two 3-pointers that gave Portland an 87-85 with 3:28 left. Lillards 3 extended the lead 92-85.Nenes layup closed the Wizards to 94-91 but he missed a free throw then fouled Meyers Leonard on a 3-point attempt on the other end. Leonard made all three free throws to put Portland up 97-91 with 1:07 left and Washington couldnt catch up.John Wall, this week was named an Eastern Conference starter for the All-Star game, led the Wizards with 25 points and nine assists.The Wizards, coming off a 105-103 overtime loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday, led by as many as 14 points in the first half.In the third quarter they really started to make their shots and we didnt. It started to look a lot like the OKC game, Wall said. We gave ourselves opportunities, we just didnt close out possessions.The Blazers had lost five of their last six, including Thursday nights last-second 90-89 loss to the Boston Celtics.It was Aldridges night after he surprised many by deciding to play despite his proclamation 48 hours earlier that he was planning to undergo surgery. He hurt his thumb on Monday against tthe Sacramento Kings and missed two games, both Portland losses. Jimmy Butler Jersey. Now, hell take it a game at a time, he said.My idea now is to play the rest of the season, he said. But if it gets too much where I cant handle it or Im not playing at a very good level then Ill stop. But hopefully it goes well for us.Despite the emotional boost from his return, the Blazers didnt hit a shot from the floor in the first 4 minutes of the game. Then Aldridge made his first two jumpers.The Wizards took advantage of the slow start and led 32-20 after the first quarter. Nene paced Washington with 11 points.CJ McCollum hit a 3-pointer that pulled the Blazers to 43-39 but Wall answered with a jumper and the Wizards led 55-45 at the break.Wesley Matthews answered with a 3 for the Blazers to narrow the gap to 66-61. Dorrell Wright got Portland closer with a falling-down 3 and a free throw that made it 68-67.Aldridge hit a 20-foot-jumper to finally pull the Blazers in front, capping their 16-5 run.But it was short-lived and the Wizards led 70-69 going into the final quarter.___TIP INSWizards: It was the first of a four-game Western Conference road swing for Washington. ... Nene fouled out on the foul against Leonard. ... The Wizards were 9-0 when leading after the three quarters on the road going into the game against the Blazers.Trail Blazers: The Blazers distributed special lapel ribbons to the fans at the Moda Center to call attention to owner Paul Allens campaign to fight the spread of Ebola. Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft who also owns the Seattle Seahawks, has already pledged $100 million toward the effort.PIERCES MILESTONEPaul Pierce hit a 3, the 2,000th of his career, to put the Wizards up 66-58 midway through the third quarter. Pierce is the fourth player all-time to reach that milestone. He joins Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Jason Terry.MONEY AT THE LINEThe Blazers were a perfect 20-for-20 from the free throw line, including 15 free throws in the final quarter. It is just the seventh time in team history that theyve been perfect from the line with 20 or more attempts.UP NEXTWizards: At Denver on Sunday night.Trail Blazers: At Brooklyn on Monday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '