Today, Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen announced that Serbian playmaker Filip Djuricic will join Portuguese giants Benfica on July 1st when the European transfer window opens. He will be joined in Portugal by fellow Serbian Miralem Sulejmani (formerly of Heerenveen) whom will join from Ajax on a free transfer.
Twenty-one year old Djuricic, had attracted interest from big clubs in Holland, but the Portuguese side has beaten them all for the midfielder’s signature. The transfer fee have not been disclosed at this time, but the deal has been confirmed on Heerenveen’s official website and it is understood that both players have signed five-year contracts.
Technical director Johan Hansma released a statement on the club’s official website: “It’s good for our club that Djuricic is leaving for a big European side. As football fans we regret the departure of Filip, because he gave us a lot of wonderful moments but Filip is ready for his next step in his career and we wish him all the best.”
Waving goodbye to Ajax – Miralem Sulejmani
Sulejmani, 24, has been a bit of an outcast at Ajax, the Amsterdammers had paid €16.25 million to Heerenveen for him, breaking the Dutch transfer-record in July of 2008, but he will leave the club on a free. The attacker has made a total of 158 appearances for Ajax, and has 38 goals to his name.
The partnership would see players from the Red Devils loaned to Ajax to gain great experience from first team football and although a plethora of transfers would be unlikely, with Ajax only likely to loan in areas they are in need of strengthening, it could potentially give Manchester United’s youth players a fantastic chance to experience a different footballing culture. The deal seems to be quite a simple one; United will send some of their best young and fringe players on loan to Ajax and in return they could have first refusal over some of the players linked with moves away from the Dutch club.
In an interview with Voetbal International, Frank de Boer said: “If Manchester United talent would prefer to gain experience with Ajax than in the lower divisions in England, then it can be a very interesting option.”
De Boer’s quotes come less than a week after Manchester United Dutch first-team coach Rene Meulensteen admitted to newspaper AD that loaning out the younger players would be a good idea with former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar playing a big role in getting the partnership started. “For our younger players it would be a good idea, rather play at Ajax than in the Championship, I’ll keep Edwin informed.”.
Now that Edwin van der Sar is working as the sporting director at Ajax, the move could prove extremely useful for both sides with the ex-United legend likely to play a key role if the partnership materialises.
Edwin van de Sar now Ajax’s Sporting Director
This season, Ajax have had Barcelona’s highly-rated winger Issac Cuenca on loan with the club and despite his problems with injuries, De Boer is hopeful that the player will go back to Spain with ‘enthusiastic stories’. Barcelona are expected to have a long standing loan partnership with Ajax due to the link that Director of Football Marc Overmars provides, so the loan deal for Cuenca is likely to be the first of many.
Given Ajax’s globally renowned talent at creating and nurturing some of the worlds most gifted players including Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Cruyff, Patrick Kluverit, Edgar Davids, Marco van Basten and Wesley Sneijder, a move would be a great experience for any United youngsters and likely extremely beneficial.
If this deal does come off, and Manchester United do get first refusal on Ajax’s stars then I’m sure that Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen, Viktor Fischer and many more who could all make the 20-time champions a much stronger squad and a much stronger proposition to their rivals.
Ajax are not going to turn into a feeder club because they are under no obligation to sell players to United who don’t wish to move. The Eredivisie is a greatly underrated league in the context of European football and it allows United to get a stronger hold in terms of their scouting network in the Netherlands. It also potentially cuts off the supply line to their main rivals.
It was goals galore this weekend in the Holland’s top league with a total of 39 goals scored. Feyenoord smashed six past Heracles and second-placed PSV keep a little pressure on with a first-half demolition of Groningen. The main story will be that Frank de Boer’s Ajax have one hand on the Eredivisie shield after a scrappy 2-0 win away to NAC Breda, making themselves, four points clear of PSV with only two rounds of games to go.
Dick Advocaat’s PSV Eindhoven now appears only to be playing for a runners-up medal and UEFA Champions League qualification, even though they demolished FC Groningen by five goals to two. PSV scored all their goals in a dominating first half, with Slovenian striker Tim Matavz grabbing the first. After only four minutes, Dries Mertens played in Matavz and the Slovenian slotted home past Marco Bizot for his 11th goal of the league season. It was 2-0, just two minutes later with a Mertens scoring a penalty kick after Groningen’s Chilean full-back Stefano Magnasco clipped the heels of the Belgian winger.
Mertens was on fire and was the architect for the third goal after 13 minutes putting Jermaine Lens through to place home. Veteran Mark van Bommel, possibly leaving at the end of the season, got in on the act before half-time with a long range low drive into the Bizot’s left corner. The fifth and final PSV goal came on the stroke of half-time, with Mertens involved again. Busy goalkeeper Bizot could not hold onto Mertens’ free-kick and the ball fell fortunately for Lens to hit his second and his 16th of the Eredivisie season. Groningen earned some consolation after the break through a Michael De Leeuw double. The win cements PSV’s place in second with an amazing plus-60 goal difference.
Mark moet blijven – Mark must stay!
Towards the end of the game the PSV crowd were incredibly vocal about the on-going status of whether or not van Bommel will stay at the Phillips Stadion. The message was crystal clear from the PSV fans, they want their captain to stick around another year, and his name was passionately sung by the Eindhoven faithful.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Uche Nwofor put VVV in the lead
ADO Den Haag 1 (Van Duinen 84)
VVV Venlo 1 (Nwofor 14)
VVV Venlo can no longer secure automatic safety after they drew 1-1 at ADO on Saturday evening. VVV had led for the majority of the match through Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor only for Mike van Duinen to deliver a killer blow just six minutes from the end. VVV’s only expectation of survival is now through the relegation play-offs, with basement boys Willem II just four points adrift of the Pride of the South. Den Haag sit in tenth, five points of the Europa League playoffs spots.
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Sanharib Malki scores his 17th of the Eredivisie season
Roda JC 3 (Zoet 50OG, Malki 64, Ramos 77OG)
RKC Waalwijk 1 (Boukhari 89)
Roda JC grabbed a crucial win in their fight against the drop as they beat RKC Waalwijk 3-1. On-loan goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet (from PSV) gifted Roda a 50th-minute opener and after Roda’s top scorer Sanharib Malki doubled the advantage the hosts were out of sight when the unfortunate Guy Ramos scored a second own goal. RKC occupy the final safety position in 15th with Roda sitting in a place below breathing down their necks just one point.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Lasse Schöne gets in the way of Rick ten Voorde’s shot much to Ajax’s relief
NAC Breda 0
Ajax 2 (Sigthorsson 47, Gilissen 52OG)
Ajax’s look to clinch their third consectutive league title next week at home to bottom club Willem II but they survived a scare against NAC on Saturday night. On nine minutes, NAC should have been in the lead after some fantastic tricky from Breda’s Elson Hooi. Hooi’s turned the Ajax defence into disarray and tried to placed a shot past returning Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer. Vermeer pulled out a stop but was stranded when the ball fell perfectly for Rick ten Voorde. Much to Ajax’s relief, ten Voorde smashed a shot into Lasse Schöne’s body from close range and the Rat Verlegh Stadion groaned with dismay as they knew it was a glorious chance missed to take the lead.
It must have been Ajax’s lucky day as they were saved by the woodwork from the resulting corner. Brazilian defender Eric Botteghin rose above both Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld and Vermeer to win the header which rattled off the crossbar and was scrambled clear by the panicking visitors. Ajax failed to get going and gained more luck after the break where Icelandic forward Kolbeinn Sigthorsson got on the end of a messy chance to place the league leaders ahead. A long ball sent over the top from Schöne was met by the chest of former Liverpool striker Ryan Babel. Babel held the ball up well and fed in Viktor Fischer and goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar saved the young Dane’s effort. The ball flicked up out of the NAC keeper’s hands and Sigthorsson pounced to flick the ball home.
The game was all but over just five minutes later. In-demand midfielder Christian Eriksen whipped in a corner and Siem de Jong’s front post header clipped off Tim Gilissen head and past ten Rouwelaar for 2-0.
Title rivals will need the unlikely event of a Willem II win at Amsterdam Arena next weekend otherwise the Eredivisie shield will once again be in Frank De Boer’s hands.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Sunday 28th April 2013
NEC keeper Khalid Sinouh is not happy with defence after FC Twente’s second goal
FC Twente scored as early as the third minute and completed their goals two minutes into injury times as they smashed NEC 5-2, which virtually declared the Nijmegen side out of the race for UEFA Europa League football next season.
Big burly Brazilian central defender Douglas headed in the first goal from a Tim Holscher corner. The lead was doubled on 22 minutes with young striker Luc Castaignos got on the end of man-of-the-match Nacer Chadli’s good work. Chadli helped himself to a goal after half-time to make it 3-0 but a Nick van der Velden’s free-kick minutes later reduced the deficit.
Not for long. Nine minutes later the home side’s fourth was scored by Swedish defender Rasmus Bengtsson got the end of a messy scramble. NEC grabbed their second on 90 minutes, this time Erik Falkenburg the scorer but Twente had the final word deep into injury time. Felipe Gutierrez made it 5-2 and his team jump up to fifth in the table as NEC sit mid-table in eleventh.
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Graziano Pelle celebrates his first goal in the 6-0 over Heracles
Feyenoord hit Heracles for six on Sunday, as Ronald Koeman’s men join PSV on 66 points to keep hopes of qualification for the Champions League alive. The rout began on 19 minutes from a wonderfully placed John Goossens free-kick smashing in the top corner giving goalkeeper Remko Pasveer no chance of stopping. The second goal of the match was equally impressive after half an hour. Italian hotshot Graziano Pellé hitting a curling effort from the edge of the box sending De Kuip into a rapture of celebration. Some good work down the right from attacking full-back Daryl Janmaat provided Lex Immers for the third just three minutes later. There was time for one more before the break with Pellé grabbing his second and his 26th goal of the season with a spot kick after Ruben Schaken had been brought down by goalkeeper Pasveer. Pasveer was dismissed for the challenge to make matters worse for the Heraclieden. Schaken grabbed a goal himself ten minutes after half-time rounding substitute goalkeeper Brian van Loo to slot home. Schaken was involved in the last goal assisting Goossens to head the sixth in. Heracles now sit in ninth and will be glad to forget this game as soon as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Nana Asare places the ball home to put Utrecht ahead early on.
PEC Zwolle 1 (Broerse 18)
FC Utrecht 2 (Asare 2, Pappot 55)
In a lacklustre affair, Utrecht travelled to Zwolle on Sunday and came away 2-1 winners to stay in sixth. The game had just kicked off when Nana Asare put the visitors ahead. Joost Broerse replied on 18 minutes for the visitors before Elroy Pappot decided the game ten minutes into the second half.
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Record breaker Wilfried Bony celebrates his milestone 37th goal of the season
Vitesse Arnhem 3 (Havenaar 9, Bony 25, van Ginkel 46)
Willem II 1 (Snijders 78)
Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony made Vitesse history on Sunday afternoon surpassing former striker Nikos Machlas’ 36 goal record in all competitions in the Arnhem’s club 3-1 win over Willem II. Greek striker Machlas had hit the net 36 times in the 1995/96 campaign but after seventeen years Wilfried Bony takes over this record scoring his 37th goal of the season in the 25th minute.
Vitesse took the lead after only nine minutes, scored by Japanese-born forward Mike Havenaar. After Bony grabbed his 31st in the league and 37th overall to break the record, just 13 seconds in the second half the ball ended in the back of the net for the Vitesse’s third goal. Mike Havenaar placed the ball to attacking midfielder Marco van Ginkel who put his team in a comfortable 3-0 lead. Willem II grabbed a consolation goal through Genaro Snijders.
In regards to Bony’s record mentioned earlier, the Ivorian still has two matches to gain more goals, against RKC Waalwijk and VVV Venlo. These will be most likely Bony’s last matches for Vitesse, he has been linked to many clubs across Europe the past few months and has stated he will leave in the summer.
AZ Alkmaar jumped up to eleventh in the Eredivisie with a shocking emphatic 4-0 win away to Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen. American international Jozy Altidore grabbed his 22nd and 23rd goals of the season in the process.
Goalscorer Jozy Altidore and Adam Maher celebrate
With AZ coach and leader Gertjan Verbeek sitting in the stands due to a suspension many pundits would have wrote off their chances of defeating a strong Heerenveen side who have won six of their last eight games with only one defeat. The Cheese Farmers proved those pundits wrong in the Friday night and thumped Van Basten’s men by four goals.
Without the creativity of seasoning Filip Djuricic, who also sat in the stands with a hamstring injury, Heerenveen looked to have no inspiration or determination. Altidore grabbed the first goal after breaking the offside trap and getting goal side of central defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw. The American placed a shot that forced a save out of goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt but the ball gratefully feel perfectly for Altidore’s head to nod the away team ahead.
Two minutes later, the lead was doubled. From the left, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson whipped in a vicious ball to the back post where Roy Beerens was arriving to smash past Nordfeldt.
Heerenveen came out the second half looking for a revival, unfortunately for the home side, this was not produced and the game was all but finished just after the hour.
A great run by Guðmundsson ended by the Icelandic getting on the scoresheet after a cute little backheel from Altidore. The icing was put on the cake three minutes later after AZ were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Altidore grabbed his second. The striker stepped up and took the free-kick quickly and curled it in the left top corner giving Nordfeldt no chance.
Heeremveen currently sit in seventh with a chance of making the Europa League next year through the playoffs while AZ are placed 11th and well out of the relegation trouble now.
Ajax have revealed on their official website that young left-back Daley Blind has signed a new deal with the club. The defender’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the current season, which led to speculations linking the 23-year-old with a summer exit abroad.
However, the lengthy negotiations have finally produced results as Blind opted to sign a new three-year contract with the Amsterdammers.
The son of Ajax legend Danny Blind has come through the youth ranks at Amsterdam Arena and, as of time of writing, made 63 Eredivisie appearances for the club, including 31 this season. Blind was recently called up for his international debut by Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal and has so far earned three Oranje caps. He made his debut for the Amsterdam club in December 2008 and has gone on to win two Eredivisie titles.
Blind also has two goals in the 31 league fixtures for Ajax this season, having made the left-back position his own. Blind has now been rewarded with a new three-year contract that should keep him at the club until June 2016.
“We have an agreement and everyone is very satisfied. Daley will play the next three years with Ajax,” director of football Marc Overmars told the club’s official website. “All doubts disappeared. Daley is a full international and at Ajax we hope this will continue.”
Free agent Evander Sno has attracted the interest of several clubs in Holland and Belgium, but wishes to take some time on making decision on his future and may even wait until the season is over.
The unemployed midfielder is keeping himself in shape by training with one of his former clubs, RKC Waalwijk but Sno’s agent Brian Berkleef has confirmed that a host of teams have contacted him looking to hire the former Ajax player.
“There are some clubs interested, but nothing concrete yet, Evander wants to take his time to see what is best for him. He is focusing first on his fitness and that is going very well at this time.”
Termination
The 26-year-old former Ajax and Celtic man was until recently under contract at NEC but his contract was terminated on April 3rd, after the player has a disagreement with coach Alex Pastoor.
Sno clashed with Pastoor when the coach had shown little care for him during his period of absence due to heart problems. Last September, Sno suffered his second on-pitch cardiac arrest of his career, however, due to having a defibrillator fitted, he was able to walk off the pitch. Sno underwent an operation later that month to help him from his heart arrhythmias.
Berkleef added “Evander has now been declared fully fit and no longer needs additional medical supervision and he only needs to undergo the usual checks for professional footballers.”
Choices
The agent has not named the clubs, but says that many Eredivisie and Jupiler Pro League clubs from Belgium have shown interest: “There are many choices for Evander. Whether it’s a Belgian club or a Dutch club? It’s an important decision and that’s why Evander wants to take his time. All these competitions are now ongoing and most clubs will only be serious when the season is over.”
Sno turns up for training daily at RKC and due to this arrangement Sno has been strongly linked with a return to Waalwijk. “Evander has a great love for RKC and knows the possibilities signing for them but he wishes to consider all the options.”
Ajax have let the other title challengers have a glimpse of stealing away the Eredivisie championship from the champions after dropping two vital points at home to Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen on Friday night. PSV and Feyenoord steamed into second and third both with wins over the weekend.
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Friday 19th April 2013
Van Basten’s side held Ajax to 1-1 draw
Ajax 1 (Fischer 26)
Heerenveen 1 (Finnbogason 53)
Friday night at the Amsterdam Arena, Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen side held league leaders Ajax dropped points to a 1-1 draw, opening the door for the chasing pack. Hosts Ajax led through Danish prodigy Viktor Fischer’s goal 26 minutes into the match, only for the in-form Alfreð Finnbogason to level eight minutes into the second half. Seventh-placed Heerenveen delighted coach Van Basten, a former Ajax favourite, eight minutes into the second half when midfielder Sven Kums delivered a cross from the right and Finnbogason struck his 24th league goal of the season. Ajax were unable to force a winner late on.
Although PSV and Feyenoord picked up wins over the weekend, with just three rounds of the season remaining, Ajax remain odds-on favourites to retain their league title.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Saturday 20th April 2013
Uruguayan David Texeira heads home for Groningen
FC Groningen 2 (Zeefuik 38, Texeira 42)
ADO Den Haag 1 (Jansen 75)
Gronigen continued their winning streak to four with a 2-1 over ADO. Both teams had a man sent off as Groningen edged into the final Europa League play-off spot. Goals from Genero Zeefuik and David Texeira were enough to secure victory for Groningen, who did wobble when defender Virgil van Dijk was sent off in the 64th minute. Kevin Jansen halved the deficit in the 75th minute but 11 minutes later he was following Van Dijk down the tunnel after seeing red.
Heracles halted a three-game losing streak in emphatic fashion on Saturday evening, running riot on RKC Waalwijk 4-0 at Polman Stadion, Almelo. The match failed to find a goal until three minutes before the halftime break when Kwame Quansah converted a penalty kick for his first goal of the season. The second half was one-way traffic as Marko Vejinovic doubled the home side’s advantage in the 65th minute before a brace from Everton put the victory beyond any doubt. The result sees Heracles jump to ninth place with 37 points and RKC Waalwijk remain fourth from bottom on 31 points.
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Willem II won their first game in five matches
Willem II 2 (Haastrup 50, Joachim 60P)
Roda JC 1 (Malki 88)
Basement boys Willem II won their first game in five at home to Roda JC despite a late rally for the Kerkrade side. Philipp Haastrup and Benoît Joachim notched for the home side after a goalless first half. Roda’s top scorer Sanharib Malki grabbed a late goal but his team were unable to grab another to clinch a point.
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Marc van Bommel celebrates his goal with PSV teammates
PSV dominated AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the late Saturday night game to keep the pressure on league leaders Ajax. It was a trademark Mark Van Bommel free kick that was blasted past AZ ‘keeper Esteban Alvarado on 36 minutes to put the visitors 1-0 at the break. The second goal came just before the hour mark as some good work from midfield dynamo Kevin Strootman set-up Belgian winger Dries Mertens for his 14th league goal of the season. PSV cemented the points just after the hour with a Jermaine Lens low left footed effort. AZ grabbed a consolation goal as Johann Berg Gudmundsson smashed a ball across the face of goal for Aron Johannsson to finish.
PSV are now four points off their title rivals Ajax and will need to win their remaining games and hope Ajax slip up.
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Sunday 21st April 2013
VVV and Twente battled to a point in their 2-2 draw
VVV Venlo 2 (Roseler 18, Nwofor 23)
FC Twente 2 (Bengtsson 58, Castaignos 59)
FC Twente claimed a dramatic point at De Koel on Sunday against VVV Venlo thanks to two goals in the span of a minute. Nils Roseler and Nwofor Uche had given Venlo a two-goal edge by halftime, but it was Rasmus Bengtsson and Luc Castaignos scoring in the 58th and 59th minutes, respectively, to earn visiting Twente a share of the spoils with the 2-2 draw.
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Utrecht’s Mike van der Hoorn opens the scoring
FC Utrecht 3 (Van der Hoorn 14, Toornstra 18, Duplan 74)
NAC Breda 0
Utrecht moved to within two points of FC Twente by cruising past NAC in a 3-0 victory at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Sunday. Mike van der Hoorn and Jens Toornstra scored in the first half while Edouard Duplan wrapped up the affair 16 minutes from time.
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Zwolle pick up another win to move into tenth
NEC 1 (George 49)
PEC Zwolle 3 (Mokhtar 18, Benson 23, Klich 85)
In a mid-table clash, PEC Zwolle grabbed another win, this time at the expense of NEC on Sunday afternoon at the Goffertstadion. Former Jong PSV striker Youness Mokhtar scored the opening goal in the 18th minute with Fred Benson hitting home a second five minutes later. Leroy George got NEC back into the game just after half-time but with just five minutes remaining, 22-year-old Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich made sure of all three points with his first goal for the club since moving from Wolfsburg in January.
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Lex Immers smashes home Feyenoord’s winning goal
Feyenoord 2 (Pelle 39P, Immers 50)
Vitesse Arnhem 0
Feyenoord climbed to third place by claiming a 2-0 win over Vitesse at De Kuip Stadion. Italian striker Graziano Pelle converted a penalty kick in the 39th minute while Lex Immers struck five minutes after half-time to put the result beyond any doubt. Feyenoord improves to 63 points on the season, bringing the club level with PSV and two points clear of fourth-place Vitesse.
Frank de Boer has announced that he has decided to stay on as head coach of Ajax Amsterdam.
De Boer was quoted as talking to Amsterdam Tv channel AT5 and stated “I will still be with Ajax next year, if they should decide to keep me.”
Ajax have been keen to discuss a new contract with De Boer and wish to extend their deal together until summer 2014. The former Dutch international is now in his third season as head coach of the Amsterdam club.
Marc Overmars, Sporting Director at Ajax spoke to Dutch newspaper AD: “We wish to look to bring new players into the club but not before we negotiate a new deal with Frank. We have already expressed that intent and Frank knows that. Obviously his is the most important deal for us.”
The announcement that De Boer is staying comes just three days after the British press had suggested that De Boer had welcomed reports linking him to Manchester City.
De Boer has led Ajax to two Eredivisie titles since taking charge of the club in 2010, and has been touted as a potential successor to Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium. However, although he has indicated an interest in leading City, De Boer does not appear to be ready to move away from the Netherlands.
“Manchester City would be something I want to do, yes, but it is difficult for me to move my family abroad at the moment and I have to consider others, not just myself.”
Ajax director Marc Overmars added this past weekend talking to ESPN “Am I worried? Not for losing Frank now, but City will be a big competitor for his signature in the near future.”
It is no surprise to many following the game in the Netherlands that AZ attacking midfielder Adam Maher is perhaps most coveted Dutch footballer at the moment.
Earlier this year in the January transfer window, English Premier League clubs knocked on the door of AZ Alkmaar, and now as the season ends and clubs around Europe await the opening of a new window, the English superpowers are ready to rumble throughout the summer for the Ducth international.
The Morrocan-born Oranje star is wanted by Eredivisie giants PSV and Ajax but the top clubs from the Premier League are in the market and they very well may tempt the playmaker to head to the British Isles.
British newspaper The Mirror have reported that Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are some clubs that Maher would like to attract.
In AZ, they are only too well aware of the foreign interest. On Maher, as what happens with many young Dutch talents an excessively high price tag has been slapped on so that AZ can make some major profit. It is rumoured that interested clubs can tempt AZ to sell him for around £15.4m, which is approximately equivalent to €18m.
But which club is the preference for Maher? Maher himself does not except anything to happen and says to he will wait until the summer. “I look to see which clubs are interested but nothing will be discussed until the summer. “
But as friend of the site, Scottish-based Dutch football expert Peter McVitie added, Maher has said over and over that he wishes to stay in Holland: ‘He has maintained since January that he wants to stay in Eredivisie and, since February, he has made clear that he wants to join one of Ajax or PSV in the summer. He lives in Amsterdam and has praised Ajax several times in recent weeks and he has actually said that he has an idea which club he would prefer to join.’
For Maher, who would like to leave with his ailing club, it is hoped that when he does leave this summer, AZ make as much as they can so they use the funds to be a force in the Eredivisie again.
Almere City 1-5 Den Bosch – Almere suffered a heavy defeat to Den Bosch in the Monday’s mid-table clash in the Eerste Divisie. Before the game, both teams have a glimmer of hope of advancing to the Jupiler Play-Offs. Jeffrey Vlug, Moreno Rutten, Enzio Boldewijn (twice) and Tom van Weert score five goals within seventy minutes to take a 5-0 lead for FC Den Bosch on the scoreboard. Five minutes from time, a Charles Dissels spot kick grabbed the slightest bit of consolation.
Den Bosch climbs to tenth place in the table making the Play-Offs still in their sights. Almere City on the other hand seems to be out of the race.
De Graafschap 1-2 Cambuur – A double from Martijn Barto, including an 89th minute winner, helped Cambuur win their fourth game in a row and climb to second in the Eerste Divisie at the expense of eighth placed De Graafschap on Sunday afternoon. 19 year old Polish striker Piotr Parzyszek grabbed the equalising goal in the 76th minute for the Superboeren. Graafschap head coach Peter Huistra was sent to the stands in the second half for criticising the referee and will face a suspension.
Ajax have one hand on their third consecutive Eredivisie title after they defeated rivals PSV 3-2 at the Phillips Stadion on Sunday afternoon. Feyenoord dropped out of the race as they were held to a disappointing draw at RKC Waalwijk.
Willem II players look dejected after the late 3-2 defeat at Heerenveen
Marco van Basten’s side will be thanking his lucky stars and Alfreð Finnbogason after his late penalty gave Heerenveen all three points when it looked like they had gave them away. The bottom side, Willem II now look resigned to relegation when glancing at the league table but they did take the lead at Abe Lenstra Stadion.
After just 12 minutes, Willem found themselves ahead. 21 year old midfielder Ricardo Ippel grabbed a rebound from a free-kick and volleyed first time, beneath the crossbar which keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt should have done better with. The break came and Heerenveen were lucky just to be the solitary goal down but they arrived back out a different beast. This showed on 53 minutes as Belgian winger Yassine El Ghanassy calmly finishing from the back post after receiving a Patrick van Aanholt cross. Two minutes later, Heerenveen had competed the turnaround. Icelandic striker Finnbogason grabbed his 22nd in the league this season with an easy tap in. Some sloppy defending by the home side let Tim Cornelisse thread the ball through to Luxembourg striker Aurélien Joachim to grab a 80th minute leveller. The Tilburgers did not hold out to the point for long as captain Philipp Haastrup got caught guilty of hand ball. Taking his tally up to 23 for the league season, Finnbogason placed the penalty home and clinched the win.
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Jozy Altidore (centre) grabbed a hat-trick in AZ’s 6-0 win
AZ Alkmaar 6 (Altidore 28P, 34P, 37, van der Hoorn 45+1OG, Henriksen 61, Jóhannsson 90)
FC Utrecht 0
AZ’s relegation worries were eased after a huge 6-0 win over nine-man Utrecht which included a first-half hat-trick from American international striker Jozy Altidore. Utrecht would have felt their were fighting a losing battle when they had Anouar Kali and Jan Wuytens both sent off before Altidore put AZ 2-0 up after 34 minutes. Kali was sent off for a second yellow after conceding the penalty with a foul on Altidore in the 27th minute, this was the 1500th red card in the league.
To make matters worse for Utrecht, before the second penalty, first choice goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter had to be replaced due to injury and Jeroen Verhoeven found himself beaten five times before the final whistle.
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Feyenoord coach Ronald Koeman disappointed with his team’s display today
RKC Waalwijk 1 (Duits 55)
Feyenoord 1 (Pelle 13P)
Feyenoord let their title hopes slip through their fingers after only achieving a draw away to RKC. Feyenoord started well and went ahead with Italian forward Graziano Pelle hiting a penalty home for his 23rd of the season.
In the 55th minute, RKC drew level with an individual effort from Sander Duits that shattered Feyenoord hearts and their title dreams.
Feyenoord coach Ronald Koeman stated he was “deeply disappointed in his team” in an TV interview afterwards.
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Christian Eriksen wheels away after putting Ajax 2-1 up
Ajax look set to be champions again after defeating PSV 3-2 and now have a five point gap between themselves and second place Vitesse. It was the visitors that took the lead with striker Kolbein Sigthorsson jumping onto a mis-kicked Mark van Bommel ball just after half an hour gone. Ajax maybe should have had a chance to extend the lead with a penalty when young Danish striker Viktor Fischer was grabbed by Van Bommel just inside the box but nothing was given.
Ajax must have been hoping to take the lead in at half time, but this was not to be. Sloppy play by Christian Eriksen in his own half let Georginio Wijnaldum steal in and knock the ball onto Kevin Strootman. Strootman kept his cool, one on one with Jasper Cillessen and slided the ball through to the unmarked Jermaine Lens to finish.
PSV started the brighter at the start of the second half but it was Ajax to hit them on the counter attack and go 2-1 up. It was Christian Eriksen who made up for his first half error on 50 minutes with a wonderful solo effort that he smashed home at Boy Waterman’s front post. PSV pressed as Ajax sat back and defended their lead. On 67 minutes, PSV were back level. The impressive Dries Mertens’ whipping free-kick rattled off the post and Lens was there again to poke home with a well-controlled finish inside the post.
Ajax were furious just a minute later, when they should have definitely been awarded a penalty kick this time. Midfielder Lasse Schone sped past Jetro Willems and the young left-back brought the Dane down in the box, referee Björn Kuipers waved claims away. PSV replaced Willems with Erik Pieters and Ajax switched Christian Poulsen for Derk Boerrigter and on 76 minutes, both were involved in the fifth goal of the match. With his first touch of the game, Boerrigter pounced on a terrible mix-up between goalkeeper Waterman and Pieters to regain the lead.
PSV will need Ajax to drop two games to get back in the title race but with only four games left in the league season, it certainly looks like the title will be heading to Amsterdam again.
Championship chasing Vitesse Arnhem shot themselves in the foot and give a big boost to PSV, Feyenoord and Ajax in the title race. Wilfried Bony and co let a 3-0 lead slip at Roda to let the team placed in 17th gain a point in a 3-3 thriller.
Mitchell Donald hits a 90 minute equaliser for Roda
Roda JC 3 (Malki 63P, Demouge 70, Donald 90)
Vitesse Arnhem 3 (Havenaar 26, 36, Bony 55)
Vitesse with Theo Janssen and Patrick van Aanholt returning to the team, played limp and lost two vital points in their challenge for the title and Champions League football. The visitors had an early scare when Mitchell Donald hit the post for Roda, but tall striker Mike Havenaar added two first half games to set them cruising. The first goal, Havenaar headed from a Renato Ibarra pass and ten minutes later he grabbed a second with Wilfried Bony assisting. The Ivorian added his own goal and the 30th of the Eredivisie season and 36 in all competitions on 55 minutes. The game was over… or so Vitesse thought.
Roda did not give up and a handball in the box from Jan-Arie van der Heijden gave them a lifeline, Sanharib Malki took the opportunity and gave the home fans belief. Fighting for their Eredivisie survival, took the game by the horns and battled a second goal from the on-loan striker Frank Demouge. Substitute Guus Hupperts played Demouge in and he smashed the ball passed Piet Velthuizen and brought his team back to 3-2. Roda coach Ruud Brood smelt blood added another striker to the mix and Mikolaj Lebedynski entered the fray. Eloy Room was needed by Vitesse late on due to an injury to Velthuizen but within minutes the fresh goalkeeper was beaten.
Luckily for the reserve goalkeeper, Malki was declared offside on 85 minutes. Roda must have thought their luck was out until Mitchell Donald headed a 90th minute leveller.
A quick note on Wilfried Bony, with the third goal today being his 36th in all competitions, he has now tied for record for Vitesse that Greek striker Nikos Machlas created in the 1997-1998 season.
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NAC celebrate a big win which all but confirms their survival
NAC Breda 2 (Lurling 82, Hooi 85)
NEC Nijmegen 0
In a mid-table battle, NAC Breda left it late to defeat NEC to move up to eleventh in the league. It was the 82nd minute when Anthony Lurling got the Breda fans inside the Rat Verlegh Stadion cheering. Elson Hooi added the a second and sealed the three points for NAC with just five minutes to go. Both goals that Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Babos, also captain of the team, could have saved, but was poor in the posts this evening. Strangely enough, Babos has signed for NAC Breda and will head there at the end of the season. With this win, NAC look clear of relegation worries.
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Bacuna (centre) scored a goal from the spot for Groningen
Heracles 0
FC Groningen 2 (Texeira 62, Bacuna 76P)
Two second half goals clinched the points for Groningen away to Heracles which moved the Pride of the North up to seventh. First goal came just after the hour mark, when Heracles failed to clear a huge kick from goalkeeper Marco Bizot, and David Texeira pounced on the loose ball, edged into the box and finished superbly.
A black cat invaded the pitch soon after and brought the home side nothing but bad luck. Defender Thomas Bruns tripped Slovenian winger Andraž Kirm on what looked to be the edge of the box, the referee pointed to the penalty spot to much protest from the Black and White stripes. Leandro Bacuna smashed the penalty home past Remko Pasveer to cement the win for the visitors.
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ADO coach Maurice Steijn was sent to the stands and will face suspension
ADO Den Haag 1 (van Duinen 41)
FC Twente 3 (Douglas 24, Bulykin 81, 83)
Russian striker Dmitry Bulykin, former player of ADO, came on late and made in the difference in this match with two goals in the closing stages. At that time, ADO was playing with a man less, after the red card of Danny Holla.
it was until the 24th minute that Twente took the lead, by Brazilian defender Douglas. A free-kick was swung ion from the left and after a scramble in the box, the big defender was in the right place in the right time to put his team in front. ADO were level before the break, when Aaron Meijers fed Mike van Duinen through on goal and Twente’s Bulgarian keeper Nikolai Mihailov could not stop the equaliser.
After an hour, however, followed a setback for Den Haag. Holla was punished for a foul on Wout Brama and received his second yellow card. This meant that the home team had to go without their captain for the remainder, and to make matter worse, coach Maurice Steijn was also sent to the stands. Twente went on the offensive and goal opportunities came for Dusan Tadic, who shot twice wide and a blast of Felipe Gutierrez also just went wide. Then on 74 minutes, substitute Bulykin made his entrance and grabbed two goals in as many minutes.
The first was orchaeasted by Nader Chadli, dribbling the ball through the ADO defence and feeding the Russian in to score. The final nail in ADO’s coffin was Bulykin latching on the rebound after an attempt by Tadic after Gino Coutinho palmed away the Serbian’s chipped attempt.
It was goals galore this weekend in the Holland’s top league with a total of 39 goals scored. Feyenoord smashed six past Heracles and second-placed PSV keep a little pressure on with a first-half demolition of Groningen. The main story will be that Frank de Boer’s Ajax have one hand on the Eredivisie shield after a scrappy 2-0 win away to NAC Breda, making themselves, four points clear of PSV with only two rounds of games to go.
Ajax have revealed on their official website that young left-back Daley Blind has signed a new deal with the club. The defender’s previous deal was set to expire at the end of the current season, which led to speculations linking the 23-year-old with a summer exit abroad.
Ajax have one hand on their third consecutive Eredivisie title after they defeated rivals PSV 3-2 at the Phillips Stadion on Sunday afternoon. Feyenoord dropped out of the race as they were held to a disappointing draw at RKC Waalwijk.
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