Bobby Zamora scored the first goal and set up the second as Fulham beat Hull 2-0 Monday to climb four places to 12th in the Premier League. Zamora headed home in the 43rd minute after Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had blocked a shot from Damien Duff. Zamora said Fulham had earned the three points. “In previous games we've worked hard and not got the result we deserved but we deserve the points tonight,” he said. Diomansy Kamara added the second in the 64th minute when he turned home Zamora's cross after a Fulham breakaway. Clint Dempsey, who missed the United States' two World Cup qualifiers because of a shoulder injury, shot and headed wide of the target as Fulham threatened more goals. The result meant that Hull remained in the relegation zone in 18th place with only seven points. The only positive for Hull was the return to action of imaginative midfielder Jimmy Bullard, a former Fulham star who had been out of action for nine months after knee surgery. Zamora added: “Just before half-time was a great time to score and it was important to get the goal after dominating like we did. We dominated the game with good possession, good football and good chances. Maybe we should have got more goals but we're over the moon.” S. Africa fires coach Santana South Africa fired coach Joel Santana Monday, less than eight months before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup Finals. “Mr. Santana is no longer coach of the senior national team,” South African Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Raymond Hack told Reuters. The departure of the 60-year-old Brazilian came after a dismal run of eight defeats in nine games including friendly defeats by Norway and Iceland last week. The SAFA said the decision was made after a meeting with Santana Monday. “It was unanimously agreed Mr Santana would with immediate effect vacate his current position,” said a brief statement. New SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani had promised to dismiss the coach as part of his election manifesto last month. Santana was the 15th coach employed by South Africa in as many years. In 2002 the country also fired Carlos Queiroz three months before the World Cup Finals. Clive Barker was also dismissed six months before South Africa's maiden World Cup Finals appearance in France in 1998. The removal of Santana opens the door for a possible return by his compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira, who resigned in April 2008 when his wife fell ill. Parreira told South African television last week he would be interested in the job. Santana was recommended by Parreira when he resigned. The SAFA, which will discuss the vacant position at a meeting Friday, has put assistant coaches Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane in temporary charge. The team continues its World Cup preparations next month with home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica.
