A clanger by Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker gifted Utrecht a tremendous chance of Europa League football next season. Jan Wouters’ side take the two-legged tie home with a two goal advantage with Twente due to travel to Utrecht for the return leg on Sunday in the season climax.
Cedrick van der Gun celebrates his opening goal
The home side’s coach Alfred Schreuder was without first choice goalkeeper Nikolai Mikhailov and right full-back Roberto Rosales, but playmaker Nacer Chadli returned to the side. Jacob Mulenga was absent with an injury for Utrecht but his replacement Edouard Duplan played a leading role in the game.
Utrecht defended well and left the home team frustrated throughout the match, the team from Enschede lacked creativity and as the first half progressed it was looking worse for Schreuder’s men. They did not start the game well and found themselves a goal down inside ten minutes.
In the first chance of the game, Cedrick van der Gun scoring on nine minutes with a header losing marker Edson Braafheid from a Tommy Oar corner.
On the hour mark, Utrecht’s lead was doubled. Frenchman Duplan pressurised Twente’s veteran goalkeeper Boschker into an costly error. The 42-year-old rushed out of the goal to meet the ball after a Rasmus Bengtsson long ball, but the keeper miskicked and grazed the ball as Duplan was pressing. Duplan was left with an open goal and it was an opportunity not to be missed.
In the final phase, Schreuder brought young attackers into play with substituates Tim Hölscher and Felitciano Zschusschen looking for a goal. However, it was defender Braafheid who had the best chance late on, but his shot went wide.
Nana Asare will be unavailable for Utrecht in Sunday’s return leg as he received his second yellow card, defender Jan Wuytens is also suspended.
Go Ahead Eagles are flying towards the top flight as Roda and Sparta cancel each other out in tonight’s Eredivisie Relegation/Promotion playoffs.
Go Ahead Eagles 3 (Houtkoop 8, Antonia 70, Kolder 82)
FC Volendam o
Go Ahead Eagles have all but confirmed their next season in the Eredivisie with a emphatic 3-0 victory over fellow Jupiler League side FC Volendam this evening.
The hosts took the lead after eight minutes with a great individual display of the ruthless in-form Xander Houtkoop.
Go Ahead subsequently failed to build on the goal, with Volendam goalkeeper Sonny Stevens several times coming to his side’s rescue.
After the break, Volendam urged forward more often but the Eagles remained by far the most dangerous team. Again, Stevens kept his team in the match with some good saves until Jarchinio Antonia eventually breached the net. The game was finished off by Marnix Kolder with eight minutes remaning as Volendam were reduced to ten men with a second yellow card for Paul de Lange.
It is hard to see whether Erik ten Hag’s side can turn this around in Sunday’s return leg, on this performance it looks to be an impossible task.
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Sparta Rotterdam 0
Roda JC 0
Ruud Brood’s Roda JC cling onto survival by taking a 0-0 draw back home for Sunday’s second leg against Henk ten Cate’s Sparta Rotterdam.
Roda nearly grabbed the opening goal with Hungarian hitman Krisztián Németh missing early opportunities. But the best chance of the game fell to the Mark-Jan Fledderus after half an hour of play, his free kick got the best out of Spaerta’s German goalkeeper Nico Pellatz.
In the second half, the anxious Sparta found it hard to attack and in particular striker Donovan Deekman spurning some great chances to clinch the game for his team.
Roda’s top scorer Sanharib Malki was quiet until in the final stages placing his shots wide.
A poor game, which before the kick-off most were chomping at the bit at the thought of these two sides looking to entertain.
Henk ten Cate’s Sparta are through to the playoff finals
The promotion race is heating up with the final four teams set for finals of the playoffs on Thursday and Sunday in two-legged affairs. Go Ahead Eagles face FC Volendam and Sparta Rotterdam play Eredivisie relegation threatened Roda JC.
In Sunday’s action, the surprise of the round was in venlo as VVV‘s fate was sealed as they are are now relegated to the second tier as they slumped to a 3-0 home defeat against Go Ahead Eagles.
The Eagles only finished sixth in the Jupiler League but could yet claim an unexpected place in the Eredivisie. The goals scored by Jarchinio Antonia (14), Quincy Promes (81) and Marnix Kolder (89) seeing them to a huge 4-0 aggregate win.
Roda JC, who found themselves alongside VVV in the relegation play-off zone, have avoided relegation (so far) as they emphatically smashed De Graafschap 6-1 for a 7-2 aggregate win.
Jordan Garcia-Calvete fired De Graafschap ahead to give the team from the second tier the aggregate lead, but it was one-way traffic after that, with a brace by the consistent Sanharib Malki and on-loan striker Frank Demouge effort putting Roda 3-1 up at half-time. Malki completed his hat-trick two minutes after the restart, while Mitchell Donald’s two goals
Eerste Divisie runners-up FC Volendam won 4-1 over MVV on aggregate with a 3-1 win on Sunday. Top scorer Michiel Kramer (44), Ludcinio Marengo (80) and Robert Muhren (90) notching for Volendam as Mark Veldmate hit MVV’s consolation.
Jupiler League’s third place side Sparta Rotterdam are also through after drawing 1-1 with Helmond Sport for a 5-3 aggregate win. Toni Varela put Sparta ahead 55 minutes before Emrullah Guvenc levelled late on.
The finals of the playoffs begin on Thursday so join us then and over the weekend for full coverage here at Total Dutch Football.
Edson Braafheid (centre) notched a goal at either end as Twente defeated Groningen
FC Twente 3 (Braafheid 12, Gutierrez 84, Chadli 90)
FC Groningen 2 (Braafheid 23OG, Krim 26)
FC Twente win 4-2 on agg
FC Twente advance to the finals of the Europa League playoffs after two late strikes made them surpass FC Groningen’s fight-back in a 4-2 aggregate victory on Sunday morning.
Edson Braafheid scored a goal at either end, but first scoring for his side with a low drive from the edge of the box to put his team in a comfortable 2-0 position after 12 minutes.
A horribly sliced attempted clearance by Braafheid equalised for the visitors and Slovenian Andreas Kirm took advantage of a terrible goalkeeping error. Twente’s Sander Boschker totally mistiming the rush-out and Kirm nipped in front of the ‘keeper and finishing coolly to put Groningen in the lead.
But goals in the last six minutes put the hosts through. A whipping cross by Swedish defender Rasmus Bengtsson was headed in by Chilean trickster Felipe Gutierrez. On 84 minutes, Gutierrez rose above his fellow Chilean Stefano Magnasco at the back post to head past the helpless Marco Bizot.
The win was cemented with an excellent finisher from the impressive Nacer Chadli. Unchallenged just inside the penalty area, the Belgian curled the ball into the corner to make it 4-2.
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FC Utrecht 2 (Toornstra 9, 82)
Heerenveen 1 (Uth 89)
FC Utrecht win 3-1 on agg
FC Utrecht will meet Twente on Thursday evening in the first leg of the final after seeing off Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen 3-1 on aggregate on Sunday afternoon.
A stunning long-range free-kick from midfielder Jens Toornstra opened the scoring after only nine minutes, which meant Van Basten’s eleven had to chase the game.
And chase they did, especially Icelandic hotshot Alfreð Finnbogason going close on many occassions with Utrecht goalkeeper Robin Ruiter holding his goal well. The game was finished off for good with eight minutes to go with Toornstra grabbing his second goal. A surging run down the right by Mark Van der Maarel was hit straight at goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfledt and Toornstra smashed home the rebound.
The Friesen side grabbed a consolation goal from Mark Uth, which initially looked like it has been chalked off after Joey van den Berg had dived in the box before Uth took his shot. The right decision was made by referee and the goal was given.
Fred Rutten will not be the coach of Vitesse next season. After discussions with club president Merab Jordania and technical director Ted van Leeuwen, the coach announced on Saturday afternoon that he will not agree to contract extension and has left the club.
Rutten leaves after only one season in charge of Vitesse
Rutten spent only one season in charge of the Arnhem club and led them to fourth place in the league and qualification for Europa League football.
Explaining the reasons behind the departure, Rutten told Vitesse.nl: “There is no conflict between me and the owner. We exchange simple conversations, but it appears that our visions are far apart for the future of this club.”
“I’ve had a great year in which not only did we achieve the target of European football, but we also challenged for the title. For myself, it was an interesting experience, an experience I positively look back on, because you fully enjoy working with a serious group of players who were willing to work for you. I thank Vitesse for the opportunity and the fans for the support throughout my time here.”
In turn, Vitesse thanked the coach for the past year: “Together with his staff, Fred Rutten brought the club to a higher level with his methodical approach. We wish him every success in his future.”
Narrow 1-0 away wins for FC Twente and FC Utrecht give both teams a great platform to progress in this weekend’s second legs in the Europa League playoffs.
Twente players gather around Felipe Gutiérrez after his goal
FC Groningen 0
FC Twente 1 (Gutiérrez 22)
FC Twente took a big step towards the second round of the playoffs to qualify for European football, to salvage something from a poor season overall for the Enschede team. Twente finished sixth in the Eredivisie this season and the 1-0 win at FC Groningen on Thursday gives them a great chance of proceeding further on Sunday in the return leg.
With a half empty stadium and the rain pouring down, it was a desolate atmosphere in Groningen and the home crowd had nothing to cheer about after 22 minutes.
After Luc Castaignos and Willem Janssen had missed earlier opportunities, Felipe Gutiérrez made a beautiful, subtle movement to finish home for the only goal of the game, in the 22nd minute from a cross by former Groningen midfielder Dusan Tadic. Castaignos thought he had made it 2-0 late in the second period but it was chalked off for offside by the linesman.
The visitors then kept the upper hand throughout the game and they should have extended the lead through Roberto Rosales and Tadic. The home side were created chances occasionally, but in all fairness Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker was barely tested.
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Cedric van der Gun is greeted with congratulation by his team for his vital goal
Heerenveen 0
FC Utrecht 1 (van der Gun 69)
FC Utrecht take home a 1-0 advantage against Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen, whose poor run continues.
It was a lacklustre first-half, as both teams seemed very hesitant to press forward and leave gaps in defence. After having played 69 minutes, the visitors took the lead through a Cedric van der Gun header, the striker meeting a cross from Jacob Mulenga.
Heerenveen pressed for a equaliser but to no avail, and Van Basten’s team will have to find form quickly to keep their European adventure alive when they meet again on Sunday.
On-loan striker Xandro Schenk hit the solitary goal in GAE’s big 1-0 win over VVV
Go Ahead Eagles 1 (Schenk 80)
VVV Venlo 0
VVV Venlo’s race for survival has fell at the first hurdle with a 1-0 defeat away to Go Ahead Eagles, they will be aiming to get back on track this Sunday in the second leg.
The only goal of the game was scored by Xandro Schenk (on-loan from Ajax) in the 80th minute. Go Ahead showed the more of the initiative and the opportunities for VVV were scarce.
VVV will have it all to do on Sunday with Go Ahead Eagles in pole position to move into the next round of playoffs.
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Brandley Kuwas celebrates his goal against MVV Maastricht
MVV 0
FC Volendam 1 (Kuwas 76)
A Brandley Kuwas goal gave FC Volendam a narrow lead heading into their second leg on Sunday at home to MVV Maastricht.
The match began with a poor first half as both teams were evenly matched without creating many opportunities. Volendam seemed a lot sharper than the hosts and in the second half they came alive with most chances falling to Ludcinio Marengo, but the attacker could not get the ball past MVV goalkeeper Bram Castro. But with fifteen minutes to go, Kuwas grabbed the all important goal sliding in to finish.
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After defeating Helmond Sport, Sparta Rotterdam take a 4-2 lead home
Sparta coach Henk ten Cate was disappointed with his side’s performance in their 4-2 away win over Helmond Sport, as he thought they should have scored EIGHT!
Sparta, undefeated under Ten Cate, went into this game with a different style and formation and pulled away into a 3-0 lead just after the hour with first-half goals from Gijs Luirink and Sandro Calabro, with Illiais Ben Hassani adding in the second half.
But a late rally from the hosts saw the lead reduced to a goal with Davy Brouwers and Zarko Grabovac made in the final stage worrying for the Rotterdam side, but an injury time Mimoun Mahi strike gave the visitors a two-goal cushion for the second leg.
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Anco Jansen is congratulated by teammates after the opening goal
De Graafschap 1 (Jansen 35)
Roda JC 1 (Demouge 55)
Roda JC has a took their first step towards in saving themselves from relegation with a vital 1-1 away draw against De Graafschap in Doetinchem.
Pieter Huistra’s side took the lead in the first half after Anco Jansen found some space and finished well on 35 minutes but a Frank Demouge (on loan from Bournemouth) header grabbed the important leveller. They meet in Kerklade on Sunday in the return leg.
With another season over and yet another season without trophies, PSV have gotten a lot of criticism lately. They spent loads of money on new players (mostly midfielders and attackers) over the last few seasons, which made them big favourites at the start of the season. Having scored an astonishing 103 goals in 34 matches, the attacking strikeforce seems very good, but due to 43 goals conceded, they eventually lost the title to Ajax, who claimed their third consecutive title. Fans have voiced their concerns about the transfer policy of the club. PSV should invest more in their leaky defense and give youth more chance in their opinion.
So, after head coach Advocaat announced that he would leave the club at the end of the season, PSV promoted assistant manager Phillip Cocu to the head coach role. In the presentation of their long-term plans, Cocu and Brands mentioned both investing in defense and youth as the new priorities for next season.
Over the last weeks, many articles about possible transfer targets for PSV popped up in Dutch media, with most of them confirmed by PSV staff. We made a list of potential signings and also included a list of players that will or might leave the club during the next transfer window.
Leaving – Mark van Bommel retired this weekend
Outgoing
Boy Waterman: Has been PSV’s first choice goalkeeper for most of the season, but was criticised by many fans. Contract expires this summer and according to VI, Cocu wants to let him go in order to give youth goalkeepers Jeroen Zoet and Nigel Bertrams a chance to compete with Tyton.
Wilfred Bouma: Senior defender in his second term for PSV. Played a few matches last year but was considered to slow for PSV’s defence. Today, new head coach Cocu has told Bouma that there will be no space for him in next year’s squad, so Bouma will have to make place when his contract expires this summer.
Marcelo: If anything has been made clear this season once more, it is the fact that PSV’s defence was once more incapable of making a strong impression. Among fans, Marcelo is the main victim of criticism. Made some fatal mistakes. Thijs Slegers, Voetbal International’s PSV watcher, announced a few days ago that Bundesliga side Werder Bremen appear to be interested in buying the 25-year old Brazilian defender. No formal approach has come in though, according to PSV technical director Marcel Brands.
Stanislav Manolev: Was loaned out to Fulham in January, and has told Dutch media that he is hoping for Fulham to activate the buyout clause in his contract.
Atiba Hutchinson: Player with the most appearances for PSV this season. Naturally a central midfielder, but switched to right back after Stanislav Manolev went on loan to Fulham in January. Earlier (in December 2012), 30-year old Hutchinson announced that he would not renew his expiring contract in order to be able to have one last adventure.
Orlando Engelaar: PSV already tried to get rid of him at the beginning of this season. Very expensive player wage-wise and mostly benched or in the reserves. His contract expires this seasons and PSV have announced not to renew his deal.
Mark van Bommel: Played a key role in PSV’s season. The 36-year old legend returned at the beginning of the season to play for PSV one last time. Despite recent attempts by PSV fans to get him to stay he announced his retirement at the end of the season.
Kevin Strootman: This 23-year old midfielder has once more had a very strong season alongside Van Bommel. With his performance, loads of clubs, including Manchester United, are interested in aquiring the services of the Dutchman.
Jeremain Lens: Had a good season as he scored 15 and gave 10 assists, but has been very open about his ambitions. He has already expressed his desire to play in the Bundesliga or Premier League several times.
Incoming
Jeroen Zoet (RKC Waalwijk): This young goalkeeper will return from two seasons on loan at RKC and is looking to compete for first goalkeeper with Tyton, after having had a good season in Waalwijk.
Mike van der Hoorn (FC Utrecht): 20-year old defender who has impressed this season for his current club FC Utrecht, with his team conceding 41 goals (less than PSV!). According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, PSV technical director Marcel Brands has already approached Mike informally if he would be interested in joining PSV.
Virgil van Dijk (FC Groningen): Another defender who has played a very solid season for his club, leading to interest from clubs in- and outside of the Netherlands. Marcel Brands was spotted in Groningen on the last day of the season as Groningen lost 0-2 to Ajax to check out the young defender.
Santiago Arias (Sporting Lisbon): Highly-rated young right-back from Sporting Lisbon. Has been a transfer target this whole season, but with both Manolev and Hutchinson expected to leave, a right back is now top priority.
Karim Rekik (Manchester City, loan): Dutch central defender currently playing for Manchester City. Played only one match for City this season, and isn’t expected to play much next season either. As reported by Thijs Slegers (Voetbal International), PSV might try to bring him to Eindhoven on a temporary deal.
Luis Felipe Ramos (Ituano): This young (16-year old!) Brazilian defender is currently on trial with PSV. If he turns out to be good enough for PSV, he can be brought in instantly as he appears to be able to get a European passport.
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Click on Joost’s name above to follow him on Twitter and also visit his blog at FM Holland.
Feyenoord has clinched highly-rated midfielder Jordy Clasie to a one-year contract extension, and the young prodigy is now contracted to the club until the summer of 2016.
Feyenoord capture Jordy Clasie until 2016
Clasie went through his entire youth development of Feyenoord and during the 2010/2011 season he was loaned to Excelsior, where he debuted in the Eredivisie. Since returning, the past two seasons, the midfielder has notched up 66 league games for Feyenoord and scored five goals, and has made the number six shirt his own.
Talking to Feyenoord.nl, the 21-year-old midfielder is delighted with the new deal: “My choice is to stay longer at Feyenoord, I want to help this club next season to play for trophies.”.
The future of Clasie has hung in the air for some time now, being linked with various clubs and the latest being in Italy with Fiorentina. The Dutch international added: “It means a lot to me to be able to stay here. I have been here fourteen years now and they have been fantastic to me. The last two years have been the most enjoyable and I consider myself and the team are doing well.”.
Technical director Martin van Geel states that it was important that the club sorted the future of Clasie out as soon as possible: “Over the last two seasons, Jordy has been an important part of Ronald Koeman’s team and has made great strides in his own personal development. He has already gained five international full caps for Holland. We always said to him that we would talk in May at the end of the current season, and we saw this as a vital part of the summer transactions, regarding the future of this tremendous young prospect.”.
Feyenoord also hopes to gain an agreement with central defender Stefan de Vrij on a new contract. The players current contract ends in July 2014. De Vrij has been linked with a move to the English Premier League with Everton.
Marc Overmars has agreed a new contract with Ajax as Technical Director. The former Oranje international has signed for four more years at the Eredivisie champions.
Overmars will remain at Ajax for the next four years as Technical Director
“I am delighted that I am now fixed into this position for four years” said Overmars to De Telegraaf. Previously, the former Arsenal winger had stated that he would have also preferred to extend his contract on a yearly basis.
In the interview with the newspaper, Overmars looked back and discussed his first year as Technical Director in Amsterdam.
“Our dealing in the transfer market has gone fairly well so far, although we would have liked to keep some of our talent. But despite the departures of Jan Vertonghen, Vurnon Anita, Gregory van der Wiel, Theo Janssen and Andre Ooijer we were still champions again, and that is very comforting that we coped with these losses.”
For the next season, Overmars has a lot to examine with head coach Frank de Boer. “What do we offer? I like to turn it over to Frank and ‘say what you want’, then we can look how to improve the team. And we will do this for the next four years.”
On Monday morning, Phillip Cocu was appointed new PSV Eindhoven head coach on a four-year deal.
Cocu replaces Dick Advocaat, who had previously stated his intention to step down at the end of the season if PSV Eindhoven failed to win the Eredivisie title. With the club finishing as runners-up and seven points adrift of Ajax in the standings, the former Holland coach is stepping aside to give Cocu the chance to lead the club.
42-year-old Cocu, who enjoyed two spells at the Eindhoven club as a player and six years at La Liga giants Barcelona, spent three months as PSV’s interim coach at the end of last season following the dismissal of Fred Rutten, before Advocaat then came in to take over the reins.
At a press conference on Monday morning, general manager Tiny Sanders said the appointment of Cocu will signal a shift in focus from instant success to bringing through young players and building a team for the future.
“PSV and Phillip Cocu have agreed a four-year contract as head coach,” Sanders said. “This expresses the intention to build a new PSV with the involvement and appearance that characterises the club.
“Both parties see the selection of Phillip Cocu, after a good debut as interim coach, as the right choice.
“After focusing on the championship in 2013, partly fuelled by the return of Dick Advocaat, we are now aiming to implement a long-term vision.
“Extra attention and investment will be made in our youth system. While individual training and guidance and a recognisable style of play at all levels are important examples of our priorities.
“Qualification for the Champions League this year is a great windfall but is secondary to the priorities previously mentioned.
“PSV would like to thank Dick Advocaat for his hard work in the 2012/13 season and wish him every success in his future challenges.
“He was willing to show his loyalty and was the same passionate man with a warm heart as he was during his first spell in charge, so we are very grateful.”
Faber, van der Weerden and Cocu to lead PSV for the next four years
Cocu will be joined by assistants Chris van der Weerden and Ernest Faber.
The former Oranje international said: “We are all eager to start. This is a challenging job with an ambitious new staff.
“We are going to build a new team. There will be changes in the squad. PSV will always go for the title but there is time enough.
“I am someone who likes to learn step by step and don’t want to go too fast. I also think you’re never too old to learn.
“I’m ready to take this step. It is a long-term thing but I am someone who, if he start something, wants to do well.”
It is rumoured that Ruud van Nistelrooy and recently retired Mark van Bommel will join the coaching staff in Eindhoven in the next few weeks.
Feyenoord finished the season in third just place missing a Champions League spot because of PSV’s majorly superior goal difference. They will enter the Europa League in August, but they did not get all their own way at home to NAC Breda.
The hosts were struggling to create any real good chances in a difficult first half but found a breakthrough just before the hour, although the goal scored by Graziano Pellè was debatable.
The Italian forward rose to head the ball towards the goal from a corner, this was cleared off the line by Breda’s Tim Gilissen. His header crashed off the cross bar and off the line but the linesman awarded the goal much to the protests of the NAC’s players.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scored Ajax’s to the opening goal
FC Groningen 0
Ajax 2 (Sigthórsson 8, Hoeson 72)
Champions Ajax travelled to Groningen looking for another three points to take their tally higher, as the home side were wishing to cement a Europa League playoff spot. Groningen did gain their playoff place but were still defeated 2-0 by Frank de Boer’s men. The hosts did trouble Ajax in parts but hot-shot Icelandic international striker Kolbeinn Sigthórsson scored an early goal after a lovely through ball from left-back Danny Blind, whom the striker finished coolly past Marco Bizot.
The win was confirmed and Ajax ended their season on a high when young substitutes Stefano Denswil and Danny Hoeson combined and the latter hit a beautiful right foot smashed in his fifth goal of the season.
Robert Maaskant’s Groningen play host to FC Twente on Thursday night in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs.
HIGHLIGHTS
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NEC’s goalkeeper and captain leaves the club after seven years
NEC Nijmegen 1 (Conboy 90)
RKC Waalwijk 2 (Anderson 7, Jozefzoon 60)
RKC took the lead with the debutant attacking midfielder Kenny Anderson after 7 minutes after some great determined work from Florian Jozefzoon. In the second half, on 50 minutes Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Babos, moving to NAC Breda on July 1st, was substitute and received a standing ovation from the Nijmegen support.
On the hour, the away side doubled their lead. A counter attack lead by a big kick from on-loan goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet put Jozefzoon through who slotted home past Swedish goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson.
NEC gained a consolation goal on full-time from Kevin Conboy. Both teams finished safe on 37 points, just four points above the relegation trouble.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Both Heerenveen and Roda begin their playoffs on Thursday night
Roda JC 1 (Németh 31)
Heerenveen 0
Former Liverpool youth striker Krisztián Németh grabbed the only goal of the game as Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen lost their third game on the bounce.
The in-form Yassine El Ghanassy, on loan from West Bromwich Albion, went close a few times but failed to gain a goal for the vistors. Roda JC took the lead after Hungarian striker Németh found the net following a goal mouth scramble on 31 minutes,
Heerenveen finish in eighth and begin the Europa League playoffs on Thursday night facing FC Utrecht at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.
Roda are in relegation trouble and start their relegation playoff campaign away to De Graafschap on Thursday also.
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Mark van Bommel retired after FC Twente 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven
FC Twente 3 (Castaignos 3, Chadli 27, Janssen 54)
PSV Eindhoven 1 (Mertens 40P)
PSV ended an horrible week and the reign under Dick Advocaat with a 3-1 defeat away to Europa League playoff qualifiers FC Twente.
PSV were down in under 3 minutes with an excellent solo effort bu Luc Castaignos. In the 27th minute, goalkeeper Boy Waterman’s poor clearance put the Eindhoven side under pressure and Nader Chadli finished with ease to double the advantage.
Before the half-time break, A striker challenge by Castaignos on midfielder Atiba Hutchinson gave PSV a penalty which Dries Mertens landed no problem.
The game was killed off on 54 minutes by a Willem Janssen goal after some great work down the left from Chadli.
Mark van Bommel, who announced his retirement after the match and looks to take up a coaching role at the Eindhoven club, was sent off in a fitting tribute on 71 minutes. He received a double booking for two awful challenges, the second an awful stamping challenge on Dusan Tadic.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Utrecht defeated Heracles 3-0 in a warm-up to their Euro playoffs
FC Utrecht 3 (van der Gun 54, Mulenga 71P, Toornstra 74)
Heracles 0
Fifth placed Utrecht defeated mid-table Heracles Almelo by a dominating three goals on their final week of the season, with all goals coming in the second half.
Cedric van der Gun, Jacob Mulenga and Jens Toornstra grabbed the goals as Utrecht head into the European playoffs this week.
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Fred Rutten’s side fell to a final day defeat at home to VVV
Vitesse Arnhem 0
VVV Venlo 1 (Linssen 27)
VVV Venlo brought a final day surprise with a hard fought 1-0 win away to fourth-place Vitesse Arnhem. Bryan Linssen gives VVV the surprise lead with some great determination shown by the winger and a good finish.
VVV face Go Ahead Eagles in a two-legged relegation playoff beginning on Thursday in Deventer.
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Virgil Misidjan wheels away in celebration
Willem II 2 (Misidjan 47, Wijnaldum 65og)
AZ Alkmaar 0
In another surprise win, already relegated Willem II grabbed a 2-0 home win against KNVB Beker winners AZ Alkmaar.
Both teams created opportunities but neither could find the net until the early stages of the second half when young winger Virgil Misidjan grabbing his eighth goal of the season. The Tilburgers were handed the win when AZ’s left-back Giliano Wijnaldum headed into his own net past Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.
AZ will enter the Europa League next year due to their KNVB Beker win last Thursday against PSV as Willem II will begin their quest to regain an Eredivisie position in the Eereste Divisie in August.
Finally, a six goal thriller in Zwolle gave PEC a 4-2 victory over the ten-men of ADO Den Haag. Due to Heerenveen’s defeat ADO could have leapfrogged themselves into a European playoff spot but failed to do so.
The in-form Fred Benson grabbed another two goals adding to Mustafa Saymak and Youness Mokhtar’s goals. Santi Kolk and Rydell Poepon replied for Den Haag.
PEC Zwolle finish a respectable 11th in their first season back in the top flight as ADO finish ninth.
Cocu, Van Der Weerden & Faber – the management team in Eindhoven
Voetbal International state that Phillip Cocu will sign a four-year contract early next week to become the new head coach of PSV.
Cocu, currently coach of the PSV A1 youth team replaces Dick Advocaat in the manager’s hotseat after just one season.
Former FC Eindhoven coach Ernest Faber and Chris van der Weerden be his assistants and the trio will be presented on Monday or Tuesday in a press conference.
Advocaat, had already decided in December already that he did not wish to stay beyond this season: “I think it’s too much at the moment. As I feel now, I will not go to another club to manage.”
“We all know what the problem is with PSV,” said Advocaat after the 2-1 defeat to AZ in the KNVB Beker final on Ascension Day. “There will be a number of players leave and therefore this makes money available to strengthen the squad. I think Cocu, Faber and Van der Weerden know what they want for next season.”
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