ABU DHABI // Paulo Bonamigo parted company with Al Jazira last night as the Abu Dhabi club played out a 4-1 victory over Al Dhafra and moved just six points behind Al Ain at the top of the Pro League.
The Brazilian coach will be replaced by Luis Milla, Spain's Olympic team coach who takes charge from today to prepare for the Asian Champions League opener against Tractor Sazi Tabriz on Tuesday.
The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia midfielder watched last night's convincing victory.
Paulo Bonamigo crossed over from Al Shabab to take charge of Jazira in the summer.
Jazira took full advantage of the league pace setters Al Ain's shock defeat to the bottom team Dibba Al Fujairah earlier last night.
Fernandinho and Ricardo Oliveira, the Brazilians, gave them a 2-0 lead close to the hour.
Anas Bani Yasin, the Jordanian defender, deflected Ali Mabkhout's shot into his own net and the UAE international forward then found the net in added time to round off his team's victory.
Makhete Diop scored a consolation goal for the visitors eight minutes from time. Fernandinho picked up a through pass from Matias Delgado, took play inside the box, before coolly slotting it past the charging Abdulbasit Mohammed, the Dhafra goalkeeper.
Oliveira doubled the lead when he tapped in a free kick in front of a crowded goalmouth.
The Jazira players were pumped up after watching Al Ain's defeat before they took to the pitch lat the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium.
"That result gave us extra motivation because it provided us with a great opportunity to close the gap behind Al Ain," Subait Khater, the Jazira midfielder, said at the post match television interview.
"In football no team is guaranteed of a win but this was a result we never expected.
"Our next game is against Al Ain and hopefully we can go even closer with a win over them."
Jazira survived on a night which saw two sensational upsets. In addition to the Al Ain result Al Nasr were beaten 2-1 by Kalba, the second bottom side.
Jazira travel to Iran on Sunday for their Asian Champions League opener against Tractor Sazi Tabriz on Tuesday and face Al Ain away on March 3. -
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