EINDHOVEN - In a thrilling finale here on Sunday, Dutch defending champion PSV finished on 75 points with a goal advantage over Ajax to retain the top title of Dutch soccer league Eredivisie. This is the fourth time for PSV to take the league trophy.
PSV players celebrate winning its 20th Dutch league title by a single goal after beating Vitesse Arnhem 5-1 at Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Sunday April 29, 2007. PSV and Ajax finished with 75 points, but PSV clinched the title on goal difference. PSV achieved a positive goal difference of 50, one ahead of Ajax. AZ, which lost to 3-2 to Excelsior Rotterdam for the first time since 1985, took third place with 72 points. PSV coach Ronald Koeman is only the second coach to win the Dutch league with two different clubs after leading Ajax to the title in 2002 and 2004. [AP] |
Ajax Amsterdam, 2-0 winners at Willem II Tilburg, also ended on 75 points but with a goal difference of plus 49 and just missed out on their 30th title.
AZ Alkmaar, who led the table with one match remaining and just needed a win, finished with 10 men in a 3-2 defeat at Excelsior Rotterdam.
PSV took an early 2-0 lead with Alex and Jefferson Farfan on target in the opening 10 minutes but Theo Janssen curled a free kick around the wall after 12 minutes to pull one back for Vitesse.
Ibrahim Afellay restored PSV's two-goal cushion just before the hour mark and minutes later Farfan scored his second to make it 4-1.Skipper Phillip Cocu struck what proved to be the goal that clinched the title with 13 minutes remaining.
Alkmaar, who led the standings with a seven goal advantage on goal difference, suffered a setback after 19 minutes against Excelsior when Boy Waterman was sent off after conceding a penalty that was converted by Luigi Bruins.
Three minutes later midfielder Simon Cziommer gave Alkmaar some hope with an equalizer but Henrico Drost restored the lead for the home side after 59 minutes.
With 19 minutes left Danny Koevermans levelled the match but in injury time Johan Voskamp sealed victory for Excelsior who also finished with 10 men after Rene van Dieren was sent off.
Urby Emanuelson and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck either side of the break to hand Ajax a 2-0 win at Willem II Tilburg. However, they could not add to their score and missed out on the title by a whisker.