RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Fluminense fired their third coach this year when Oswaldo Oliveira was dismissed on Monday after his team lost 3-0 to a depleted Ponte Preta.

Sunday's loss was suffered against a relegation-threatened team missing half their first-team regulars due to a stomah bug and who had a player sent off midway through the second half.

"The recent results and the pressure the team are suffering moved us towards this decision," said director Tote Menezes on the club's official Web site.

Despite the defeat, Fluminense are sixth in the Brazilian championship and only five points behind leaders Sao Paulo with more than half the tournament still to play.

"I was surprised," Oliveira told reporters.

"I'm leaving Fluminense in a better state than I found it. When I arrived, the team was apathetic, unmotivated with discouraged players and today the situation is different."

Ivo Wortmann started the year in the hot seat and lasted six weeks. He was replaced by Paulo Campos, who was in charge for five games before being fired and replaced by Oliveira.

Josue Teixeira, a member of the coaching staff, was named as the new coach.

There have been 26 coaching changes among Brazil's 20 first division clubs since the start of the year.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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