A Jorge Andrade penalty in the last kick of the game gave Willem II the 2-1 win over De Graafschap to take the Tilburg side top of the Eerste Divisie. Jurgen Streppel’s side now hold pole position for promotion to the Eredivisie, two points clear of second-placed FC Dordrecht with four games to go.
The visitors got off to the perfect start when top scorer Ruud Boymans fired the ball underneath the crossbar from a great Terell Ondaan move from the right wing to put Willem II in front after just four minutes played.
The league leaders held the game into hostage and deterred any De Graafschap attack until twenty minutes of time remaining. The Super Farmers equalised through midfielder Robin Pröpper and when the hosts looked to have stopped Willem II’s title charge, the visitors were awarded a penalty in injury time.
Boymans got bundled over in the area and referee Pol van Boekel pointed to the spot, three minutes into stoppage time. After Jorge Andrade sent Theo Zwarthoed the wrong way, Van Boekel blew for full-time and Willem II had stole all three points to head top of the pile.
TEAMS
DE GRAAFSCHAP:Zwarthoed, Van de Pavert, Lazic (Cavlan 82), Massop, Will, Pröpper, Breinburg, Vermijl, Linssen, Echcharaf (Darri 70), Kabasele.
SUBS NOT USED: Evers, Eltink, Menting, Heusinkveld, Maertzdorf.
GOALS: Pröpper 72.
BOOKINGS: Lazic 36.
WILLEM II:Swinkels, Peters, D. Wuytens, Heymans, Cornelisse, Haemhouts (Ippel 88), Messaoud, S. Wuytens (Heerkens 83), Ondaan (Vicento 28), Boymans, Andrade.
Willem II are now the favourites to earn the automatic promotion spot to the Eredivisie after overcoming league leaders FC Dordrecht 3-1 on Friday night. The Tilburg side stay in second but are now just one point adrift from the top spot with a game in hand over their rivals.
Willem’s top scorer Ruud Boymans, on loan from AZ Alkmaar, lead his side to the all-important victory scoring a double including the opener after just three minutes. Brazilian forward Bruno Andrade got the second just after the half-hour mark to send the hosts in two goals to the good. As Dordrecht pressed for goals to try and get back into the game, Boymans hit his second on 68 minutes to cement all three points. The visitors got a last minute consolation goal through Paul Gladon but Dordrecht will be hoping that De Graafschap can do them a favour on Wednesday, when Willem II travel to Doetinchem in their game in hand.
The biggest win of the weekend was Excelsior 8-0 drubbing of Telstar in game which saw the Rotterdam side five goals up at half-time. Eerste Divisie top scorer Lars Veldwijk took his tally to 25 goals in 33 games with a hat-trick as fellow striker Kevin Vermeulen notched a brace. Scoring was complete by Moroccan midfielder Adil Auassar, Ricky Kruys and Lars Hutten netting the other three goals.
Third-placed VVV Venlo maintain their playoff position with a 2-1 home victory over FC Emmen, thanks to goals from Oguzhan Tuerk and Prince Rajcomar after Ronald Bergkamp had grabbed a equaliser for the away side.
With only seven games taking place due to a large amount of police presence issued to work this week’s Nuclear Security Summit 2014 in Den Haag, only two of the top five played with both coming out on top.
Second-placed Willem II were not in action this past Friday evening which allowed FC Dordrecht to stretch their lead to four points on Friday night with a 3-1 victory over Jong Twente. Youri Leon put the league leaders ahead after 20 minutes but soon after the half-time break, Kristopher Vida equalised for the Twente reserve side. Two goals in the last six minutes courtesy of Paul Gladon and Genaro Snijders clinched the victory.
VVV-Venlo comfortably sit in third four points ahead of Excelsior in fourth with a hard-fought 3-2 win over FC Oss. Venlo took a first-half lead through a Leon de Kogel penalty, which was the strikers 11th goal of the campaign. After Jorzolino Falkenstein equalised just before the hour mark, VVV stepped it up a gear and regained the lead nine minutes later with Oguzhan Turk grabbing the goal. Dyon Gijzen looked to cement the points six minutes before time, but Johnatan Opuku Agyemang notched in the 90th minute to give Venlo an unnerved few minutes before the full-time whistle.
Jong PSV missed the opportunity to leapfrog into fifth when they fell 3-1 away to Volendam. The division’s top scorer Robert Mühren notched twice to take his tally to 23 in 27 games with a Ludcinio Marengo goal in injury time to seal the win. PSV’s young central defender Menno Koch scored a second-half penalty which proved to be nothing but a consolation.
Ronald Bergkamp scored the only goal of the game in FC Emmen’s win over FC Eindhoven as the highly-rated Abdelmalek El Hasnaout notched Jong Ajax’s only goal in their 1-0 away win to Fortuna Sittard.
Helmond Sport and Telstar cancelled each other in a 1-1 draw with an early Serhat Koç goal giving the hosts the leas but a late Toine van Huizen leveller meant the points were shared.
Down at the bottom, Achilles ’29 gained a point at home to Sparta Rotterdam but they still sit rock bottom on just 22 points.
On Friday evening the most unlikely result of the Eerste Divisie season so far was witnessed as 19th place FC Oss handed 15th place FC Emmen an unbelievable EIGHT-nil pasting writes Will Burns.
The relegation threatened FC Oss have been improving in recent weeks but no-one expected a score like the one we saw on Friday evening. Dennis Janssen opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour before Jonathan Opuku and Lorenzo Pique added to the tally before half-time. Janssen added his second, while Marko Maletic netted early in the second half. Ryan Sansai and Guyon Phillips added to the rout before Maletic grabbed his brace to send Emmen home with their tails between their legs.
FC Dordrecht grabbed top spot after a great 2-0 away win against title rivals VVV Venlo on Friday night. Paul Gladon gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Giovanni Korte added a second in second half stoppage time. VVV’s chances of getting back in the game were hampered by defender Jeffrey Altheer receiving a red card midway through the second half. Venlo are now third, seven points away from Willem II in second.
Promotion hopefuls Willem II sit in second after Jong PSV hit two late goals to pinch a 2-2 draw on Monday night. Ruud Boymans scored his 20th of the season and Terell Ondaan add a second to fire the Tilburg side ahead but PSV full-back Joshua Brenet grabbed on what was thought to be an 85th minute consolation for the home side. The PSV reserve side did not give up and in the final kick of the game Alex Schalk scored the equaliser to send Willem II back to Tilburg with just the point.
Excelsior missed the chance to go in third falling at home by the single goal to MVV Maastricht. Twenty-one-year-old Belgian midfielder Marco Ospitalieri notched the only goal of the game.
De Graafschap moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win away to Telstar thanks to the young strikeforce of Nathan Kabasele and Vincent Vermeij notching the all important goals.
Jong Ajax came from behind to defeat Achilles ’29 in a great 2-1 win on Saturday. The part-timers went ahead through Thijs Hendriks on 54 minutes before Serbian winger Dejan Meleg equalised just after the hour mark. Highly-rated Danish playmaker Lucas Andersen got the winner with twenty minutes of time remaining.
In other games, Helmond Sport were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Fortuna Sittard as Sparta Rotterdam fell to a 1-0 defeat while entertaining Almere City a day later. On Sunday, FC Volendam lost 2-0 to Den Bosch while Jong Twente defeated FC Eindhoven 1-0 on Monday evening.
Dordrecht take three points again, FC Oss closing in on Achilles
Another round played in the Dutch Jupiler League and it was a round in which Sparta hoped to go past Dordrecht in the table. Sparta hosted the league leaders on Saturday knowing that they were yet to be beaten at home, but it all went wrong for Sparta in the first half as Dordrecht managed to lead 0-3 at the break thanks to goals by Gladon, Meulens and Danso. Sparta did pull back to 2-3 in the second half and even got the opportunity to level the game, but Bilate failed from short distance.
FC Eindhoven benefited from Sparta’s loss by easily beating Achilles ’29 at the Jan Louwers Stadion. Three Eindhoven goals before half time meant they could sit back and relax after the break, in which Achilles scored a consolation goal to make it 3-1.
The day before these two matches, FC Den Bosch went back to winning ways. After two trashings against Dordrecht and Sparta, they beat Helmond Sport 3-1 at home with goals from Van Den Broek and Quekel in the last twenty minutes. Willem II humiliated Almere City by putting five behind Van Duin. The win keeps them in fourth place, seven points behind Dordrecht. Meanwhile, bottom of the table side Oss got a draw against in-form Excelsior to keep the pressure on Achilles and Almere City. The first half was most exciting as all four goals were scored before the break.
Jong Twente and Jong PSV both grabbed wins in their fixtures. Twente had an easy game against Telstar (3-0), while Jong PSV continued their run by beating mid-table rivals MVV Maastricht 3-2 in an interesting match. Jong PSV now find themselves fiercely involved in the period title battle with 16 points from the last 7 games.
Their run contrasts sharply with that of rivals Jong Ajax, who lost their seventh game in a row, this time in a 1-2 defeat at home to De Graafschap. Although the Ajax reserves did grab a lead through former De Graafschap man Sam Hendriks, De Graafschap eventually got the win. First, De Graafschap were lucky as Ajax were denied a free kick, followed up by a quick counter attack that Anco Jansen finished off. Then, in the second half, Martina got sent off for allegedly bringing down Vincken in the box, although Vincken himself indicated he was not sure if it was a foul. Parzyszek scored the following penalty kick to score the final goal of the game, 1-2.
FULL RESULTS
Friday 8th November 2013
FC Den Bosch 3-1 Helmond Sport
FC Oss 2-2 Excelsior Rotterdam
Fortuna Sittard 2-0 FC Emmen
Jong FC Twente 3-0 Telstar
Willem II 5-0 Almere City
Saturday 9th November
Sparta Rotterdam 2-3 FC Dordrecht
FC Eindhoven 3-1 Achilles ‘29
Sunday 10th November
FC Volendam 1-1 VVV Venlo
Monday 11th November
Jong Ajax 1-2 De Graafschap
Jong PSV 3-2 MVV Maastricht
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FC Oss will no doubt be delighted with this weekend as they finally managed to get their third win of the season by winning 1-2 De Geusselt in Maastricht. FC Den Bosch had another match to forget as the league leaders FC Dordrecht beat them 5-0. After the 7-1 loss last weekend, Den Bosch now find themselves in 17th place with just three points from their last six games.
Almere City managed to grab a point against Fortuna Sittard, moving past Achilles ’29, who lost against Volendam on Saturday, and again on Tuesday against Sparta Rotterdam. Sparta had also won their match on Saturday (away to Emmen), which means Sparta are now only 1 point away from first place and firmly on top in the second period table.
FC Eindhoven had an amazing match as they visited De Graafschap. With Willem II surprisingly losing 3-1 to Telstar on Friday, the game at De Vijverberg in Doetinchem meant a battle for third place. An excellent performance by the boys from Eindhoven meant they took the three points back home.
Helmond Sport once again proved they don’t give up easily as they beat Jong Ajax 3-2 after going 0-2 down. Hoesen scored an amazing lob ball for Jong Ajax but it turned out to be not enough for the Amsterdammers. Rivals Jong PSV extended their great run of form with a surprising 0-2 win over recently relegated VVV Venlo, while Excelsior managed to grab all points against Jong FC Twente. Talented FC Twente attacker Youness Mokhtar overslept and missed the match, which ended 3-0.
Friday 1st November 2013
FC Dordrecht 5-0 FC Den Bosch
MVV Maastricht 1-2 FC Oss
Almere City 1-1 Fortuna Sittard
Telstar 3-1 Willem II
Saturday 2nd November
FC Emmen 0-1 Sparta Rotterdam
De Graafschap 1-3 FC Eindhoven
Achilles ’29 0-2 FC Volendam
Sunday 3rd November
VVV Venlo 0-2 Jong PSV
Excelsior Rotterdam 3-0 Jong FC Twente
Monday 4th November
Helmond Sport 3-2 Jong Ajax
Tuesday 5th November
Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 Achilles ‘29
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Click on Joost’s name above to follow him on Twitter and also visit his blog at FM Holland.
It was a great weekend for FC Dordrecht as they saw FC Eindhoven and Willem II both spill points on Friday, and beating Jong Ajax 0-4 themselves tonight. FC Eindhoven lost 1-3 at home to Excelsior, while Willem II drew goalless against MVV.
The most impressive result came on Saturday, when Sparta Rotterdam put seven behind FC Den Bosch at “Het Kasteel”. The win saw Sparta move up to second place in the league.
De Graafschap also moved past Eindhoven and Willem II in the league, after beating Volendam 0-1 late in the game.
At the bottom of the league, FC Oss almost managed to pull off a stunt against Helmond Sport, but two quick goals from Brouwers and Elbers respectively meant Helmond took home the three points with a 2-3 win.
Jong PSV managed to pick up a win again, beating Telstar 3-1. They are now the highest “Jong” team in the league, with a 14th place.
FULL RESULTS
Friday 25th October
Willem II 0-0 MVV Maastricht
FC Emmen 2-1 Almere City
FC Eindhoven 1-3 Excelsior Rotterdam
FC Oss 2-3 Helmond Sport
Saturday 26th October
Sparta Rotterdam 7-1 FC Den Bosch
Fortuna Sittard 2-1 Achilles ‘29
Sunday 27th October
FC Volendam 0-1 De Graafschap
Monday 28th October
Jong Ajax 0-4 FC Dordrecht
Jong PSV 3-1 Telstar
Jong FC Twente 1-1 VVV Venlo
STANDINGS
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Click on Joost’s name above to follow him on Twitter and also visit his blog at FM Holland.
FC Dordrecht still top of the second tier of Dutch football with the only 100% record in the division.
The biggest win of the weekend came on Monday night as Jong PSV thrashed FC Oss 4-0 with the highly-rated central defender Menno Koch scoring twice.
Willem II managed their first win of the season with a 2-1 triumph at Excelsior Rotterdam. Winger Virgil Misjidan was sold to Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad midweek but goals from Jorden Peters and Ruud Boymans gave the Tilburg the win.
MVV defeated Jong Ajax by a Bryan Smeets penalty in a tight 1-0 win on Friday night.
FC Eindhoven were finally defeated by Telstar in a heavy 3-0 loss.
FC Dordrecht sit top of the Eerste Divisie after matchday two, with the Schapenkoppen being the only team to win both games. Erixon Danso fired two goals away to division new boys Achilles ’29 to help his side to a 4-1 victory. Giovanni Korte and Paul Gladon grabbed the two others with Frank Hol scoring a consolation for the home side.
Week two began on Friday night, with a goal-less draw between Den Bosch and Fortuna Sittard with goals featured in all four other games.
In a battle of the two relegated clubs, VVV Venlo defeated Willem II 2-0 with Randy Wolters scoring on the stroke of half-time and Jules Reimerink adding another deep into second-half stoppage time.
FC Oss won by the same scoreline while hosting Jong Ajax. The Amsterdammers fell to goals from Wesley Deenen and Danny van den Meiracker even though they had quality like Tobias Sana, Nicolai Boilesen and Lesley De Sa.
Telstar bounced back from losing to Ajax last weekend with a great 3-2 home win over FC Emmen. Johan Culhan put the hosts ahead after seven minutes before Elson Rosario Almeida equalised ten minutes later. A double in six minutes from Terell Ondaan gave Telstar the points with Wouter Weghorst grabbing one back before full-time.
FC Eindhoven pulled off a shock away win against Helmond Sport. Anthony van der Hurk got the visitors off to a good start after 16 minutes only for Davy Brouwers to reply at the start of the second half. The three points headed to Eindhoven after a Juanito Sequeira own goals gave them the 2-1 lead.
A goal by Tom van Hyfte after just ten minutes gave MVV the slender 1-0 victory over Jong Twente on Saturday afternoon. As De Graafschap defeated Almere City by a single goal after Belgian Jordan Garcia-Calvete netted the only goal of the game.
Two draws ended the week with FC Volendam sharing the point with Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday. Johan Voskamp gave Sparta the lead after 16 minutes but the game ended 1-1 after Robert Mühren grabbed the leveller on the half-hour mark.
Finally, on Monday night at the Philips Stadion, Jong PSV drew 1-1 with Excelsior. The Rotterdam side took the lead deep into the first period with Lars Hutten finishing coolly past Nigel Bertrams in goal. Danish international defender, Mathias Zanka Jorgensen gained his side a point with a nice finish of his own.
The opening games of the new Eerste Divisie season provided the first matches in professional football for four clubs in the division, and all four new sides ended week one undefeated.
On Friday evening, ten-man FC Dordrecht gained a 2-1 victory at home to an unlucky MVV. The hosts opened the scoring with Jeffrey Fortes after 17 minutes but MVV’s Tom van Hyfte got the leveller before the break. After referee Rogier Honig showed Marvin Peersman the red card on 55 minutes, Giovanni Korte got the winner with twenty minutes remaining against the run of play.
After a goal-less first half, goals from Abdelaziz Khalouta and a Vlatko Lazic own goal in the second period gave Fortuna Sittard a 2-0 win against the travelling De Graafschap. And the game between FC Eindhoven and VVV Venlo ended without either team finding the net.
After just eight minutes into the game, Excelsior‘s Lars Veldwijk and Helmond Sport’s Ferry de Regt collided heads and had to be both substituted. Excelsior took the lead with Lars Hutten on 33 minutes but Helmond replied straight from the restart with a Serhat Koc goal. The visitors went in the break 2-1 ahead when defender Dave Nieskens scored. Jeff Stans got the game’s fourth goal on the hour mark as the teams shared the points.
On Saturday afternoon, Jong PSV held their own away to Sparta Rotterdam and managed to grab a 2-2 draw. Ninteen-year-old midfielder Mohamed Rayhi put PSV ahead until an Iliass Bel Hassani free-kick levelled the game up on the hour mark. Nine minutes later, Cendrino Misdjan nodded the Sparta in the lead but a Menno Koch header gained a point for the league debutants.
Five goals were exchanged in Almere as FC Volendam came back from behind to beat Almere City by three goals to two. Volendam’s hero was Robert Mühren who scored all three of his teams goals. Tim Receveur and Fabian Serrarens replied for the home side but a 78th minute Mühren goal gave the three points to the visitors.
A ninetieth-minute Wout Weghorst goal for FC Emmen spoiled Achilles ’29 chance to gain all three points in their first game as a professional team. The new boys were looking good after Freek Thoone had gave them a 17th minute lead but Alexander Bannink made the score 1-1 just two minutes later. Frank Hol then gave the underdogs the 2-1 advantage on 76 minutes before Weghorst’s grabbed the last gasp equaliser.
In Sunday’s only game we saw yet another 2-2 draw in Tilburg as Willem II hosted FC Den Bosch. Ruud Boymans had put the hosts in front before Benjamin van der Broek may Willem pay for a defensive lapse. Boymans must have thought he had won the game for his side on 87 minutes when he successfully converted a spot-kick. But it was not to be as two minutes later, Furghill Zeldenrust headed to level the score.
Jong Ajax defeated Telstar 2-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA on Monday evening. Highly-rated Danish prospect Lucas Andersen grabbed both of the Ajax goals with Lesley de Sa providing both assists.
Jong FC Twente dished out an emphatic 3-0 defeat to FC Oss, and they began very strong and scored twice in the first seven minutes. Nils Röseler and Felitciano Zchusschen the scorers with the latter adding a third on 71 minutes.
Three clubs in Dutch football are in poor financial shape, the KNVB announced on Wednesday morning. Based on their interim results, ADO Den Haag, Fortuna Sittard and FC Emmen are listed in Category 1.
Clubs listed in Category 1 must work on their financial recovery and gain Category 2 status within three years. The KNVB will investigate each case and set-up a plan to clean up each club’s financial difficulties.
The report, compared with earlier this year, is a vast improvement. In January, five clubs were listed in Category 1 and were put under scrutiny by the organisation. Helmond Sport and FC Dordrecht were then also listed as being in financial danger but the clubs reported last month to now being classed in the second category. The now-defunct SC Veendam, who went bankrupt last month, is removed from the list, while FC Emmen have dropped into Category 1 from the last report.
Mark Boetekees, who is responsible for the KNVB report is pleased with the progress. “It’s good to see that clubs now realise that a good and consistent financial policy is important. They must continue to work on financial recovery to ensure that their future is secure.”
In total they are 23 of the 34 professional clubs in the safe category 2. These are: AZ, FC Den Bosch, SC Cambuur, FC Dordrecht FC Eindhoven, Excelsior, Feyenoord, De Graafschap, Helmond Sport Heracles Almelo, MVV Maastricht, NAC Breda, NEC, RKC Waalwijk Roda JC, Sparta Rotterdam, Telstar, FC Twente, FC Utrecht, Vitesse, VVV-Venlo, Willem II and PEC Zwolle.
Eight clubs are in excellent financial condition and are listed in Category 3: Ajax, Almere City FC, Go Ahead Eagles, FC Groningen, Heerenveen, FC Oss, PSV and FC Volendam.
All clubs have to submit their figures to the federation for the year 2013/14 by the next financial assessment, which will be on June 15.
As expected, Ajax Amsterdam won their 32nd Eredivisie title, and third in a row today as they put five past Willem II, which condemned the Tilburg club to the Jupiler League next season.
Ajax champions for the third year in the row
For the third season in a row, Ajax Amsterdam are the Eredivisie champions.
Manager Frank de Boer stated to Eredivisie Live after today’s game: “We have been the most consistent. This year, we were able to finish our games in the first half of the season and then we have had a nice 5-0 championship winning game today. You should reward yourself and the public like we did today. With maybe a little luck, we feel we could have won by a bigger margin but nevertheless, we are proud of this title.”
“Were we the rightful champions? Yes, I think so. We have been the most consistent and I think we have played the best football.” he added. De Boer now joins Ronald Koeman as only men to have won at least three league titles in the Netherlands as player and a coach. In another interesting record, De Boer joins former Barcelona team-mate Pep Guardiola as a player and coach to three-peat with the same club.
An amazing 38 goals were scored on the penultimate round of fixtures of the Eredivisie season, full report tonight!
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The F-side unveil the 32nd Championship flag
Ajax 5 (Sigthórsson 12, Eriksen 25, Fischer 68, de Jong 82, Hoesen 89)
Willem II 0
The champions went out and got the job done in style with a 5-0 demolition of Willem II Tilburg which sent the visitors back down into the Jupiler League. The party got underway after just 12 minutes when Kolbeinn Sigthórsson delivered a well-executed diving header following a great cross from Ryan Babel. The lead was extended thanks to an error from Tilburg keeper David Meul, who let a long drive from Christian Eriksen slip through his hands after 25 minutes.
After Danish 18-year-old winger Viktor Fischer had added a third, the fans in the F-Side of the Arena unveiled the flag in the picture above and started the celebrations. Within ten minutes to Siem de Jong added a fourth before substitute Danny Hoesen got in on the act minutes later.
After a third straight title, the Amsterdammers will now want to focus on competing in the UEFA Champions League, but fear they could lose players like Fischer, De Jong, Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld to foreign clubs.
“This feels great but it would be perfect if this team sticks together for another year so we can try to survive the Champions League group stage,” said left back Daley Blind, who signed a new three-year contract last month.
On the other end of the spectrum, Willem II now face at least another season in the Eerste Divisie, and will hope to hang onto young stars like Genaro Snijders, Virgil Misidjan and Niek Vossebelt to try and come back up to the top level as soon as possible.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Stefan de Vrij has possibly played his last game for Feyenoord
ADO Den Haag 2 (van Duinen 10, Holla 37P)
Feyenoord 0
It was a bad day all around for Ronald Koeman’s Feyenoord as they day ended with top scorer Graziano Pelle missing a last minute penalty, as well as losing defender Stefan de Vrij with a broken nose, which could have been his last game for the club.
Den Haag prodigy Mike van Duinen continued his great goal scoring form putting ADO ahead after 10 minutes of play. Feyenoord failed to get a grip on the match and after 37 minutes they found themselves 2-0 down. Danny Holla placed home a spot-kick awarded to the hosts after Daryl Janmaat fouled Tjaronn Chery in the area.
Feyenoord will play in the Europa League next year after PSV’s victory today made them out of reach in the last round of fixtures due to the Eindhoven club’s superior goal difference.
HIGHLIGHTS
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NEC’s Gabor Babos is stranded after Daan Bovenberg own goal sails over the Hungarian goalkeeper
PSV Eindhoven will join the UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign in the summer after clinching second place in the standings but it was not all plain sailing in their 4-2 victory over NEC Nijmegen on Sunday afternoon.
PSV gained a stroke of luck to get the day going in the right direction after Daan Bovenberg’s own goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead after 9 minutes. A long throw was zipped in from the left and the NEC defender flicked it over goalkeeper Gabor Babos’ head, much to the Hungarian’s displeasure. It was 2-0 before half-time with a superb goal from Swedish striker Ola Toivonen which was PSV’s 100th goal of the season.
PSV’s jubilation then turned to panic in the second half, when the visitors grabbed two goals back and levelled the game. Nick van der Velden and Frenchman Remy Amieux, both notched after fumblings in the Eindhoven defence, and the Phillips Stadion spectators were not happy.
Up stepped Jermain Lens just two minutes after Amieux’s goal to regain the lead and send the crowd in raptures. A powerful driving free-kick from Mark van Bommel was plamed away by Babos and the return came in from young left-back Jetro Willems but again the goalkeeper could not hold. Lens anticipated this and pounced on the scraps to put PSV 3-2 ahead. Young substitute striker Jurgen Locadia put the final nail in NEC’s coffin five minutes into injury time after a scrappy ending to the match.
After the game head coach, Dick Advocaat confirmed that he will leave at the end of the season, his replacement is rumoured to be former club favourite Philip Cocu.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Nourdin Boukhari was sent for an early bath for two yellow cards for backchatting the referee
RKC Waalwijk 3 (Braber 3, Lieder 40, Duits 69P)
Vitesse Arnhem 2 (van der Heijden 47, Havenaar 68)
Vitesse crashed to a 3-2 away defeat to ten-man RKC Waalwijk which has pulled the hosts of relegation trouble. The visitors were shocked after just three minutes when they fell behind to Robert Braber goal after some terrible defending from Guram Kashia.
It did not look to be RKC’s day after 28 minutes when forward Nourdin Boukhari stupidly was shown two yellow cards for arguing with the officials. After a terrible miss from Vitesse’s Mike Havenaar just before the break, the home side found themselves two goals in-front. Mart Lieder showing Havenaar how to head a ball straight from a corner after the Arnhem striker had hit the post from five yards out moments earlier.
It looked like Fred Rutten had whipped his boys into shape at half-time as Jan-Arie van der Heijden slid home Wilfried Bony’s header to grab a goal back just two minutes into the second half. The forward line of Marco van Ginkel, Bony and Havenaar were looking bright and got on level terms on 68 minutes. Again, Bony with the assisting header onto Havenaar to finish.
Everyone watching would not have predicted what happened next, as Vitesse had the momentatum, RKC got the ball from the kick-off and attacked again. Florian Jozefzoon ran at the poor Kashia and the defender brought the attacker down to give RKC a spot kick. Sander Duits hit the penalty home and Fred Rutten substituted Kashia minutes later.
The game petered out and RKC are safe from the relegation playoffs as Vitesse will start next season playing UEFA Europa League football.
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Viktor Elm is congratulated by team-mates after putting AZ ahead
AZ warmed up for Thursday, KNVB Beker final against PSV in style with a 4-0 home win over PEC Zwolle.
Alkmaar started well and took the lead on 20 minutes, when Adam Maher whipped in a corner was headed home by Swedish midfielder Viktor Elm. It was 2-0 in the 39th minute with a Roy Beerens close range volley giving goalkeeper Diederik Boer no chance.
AZ continued to press after the break and added a third just past the hour with substitute Aron Johannsson netting and Adam Maher grabbed the final goal 77 minutes with Elm crossing to repay Maher for his earlier assist.
Despite the defeat, Zwolle will be happy with the season so far, sitting in 14th and they have survived their first year back in the Eredivisie. AZ now sit in the tenth and will hope that Heerenveen are defeated next weekend away to Roda, so they can qualify for the European playoffs. Alkmaar will need a win when they play away to relegated Willem II.
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A poor game in Venlo finished goal-less and VVV will enter the relegation playoffs
VVV Venlo 0
FC Groningen 0
A scoreless and toothless draw in Venlo as VVV enter the relegation playoffs with FC Groningen qualifying for the Europe League playoffs later this month. The Limburgers enter the relegation survival playoffs for the third season in a row as Groningen seemed to be already on their post season holidays.
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FC Utrecht pulled out all the stops on Sunday to win 4-2 away to Heerenveen
Heerenveen 2 (El Ghanassy 30, 80)
FC Utrecht 4 (Toornstra 34, Mulenga 61, Wuytens 67, van der Hoorn 86)
Utrecht defeated Marco van Basten’s Heerenveen side 4-2 to leave the visitors lingering in the uncertainty of reaching the UEFA Europa League next season. A win or a draw today would have confirmed the playoff place for the home side not even two goals from Yassine El Ghanassy could lead to the win they so desperately needed.
El Ghanassy put Heerenveen ahead after half an hour but Jens Toornstra equalised just four minutes later. On-fire Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason smashed a header off the crossbar before the break as Heerenveen pressed for the second goal. Utrecht then had a fire lit under them on the second-half and a quick-fire double in six minutes after the hour gave them a 3-1 advantage. Jacob Mulenga and Jan Wuytens with the Utrecht goals but El Ghannasy hit a second for the hosts to give them hope of a comeback.
But with just four minutes to go, Utrecht finished the game off with defender Mike van der Hoorn’s diving header sealing the win.
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Twente’s Nacer Chadli and Heracles defender Bart Schenkeveld tussle for the ball
Heracles 1 (Bruns 7)
FC Twente 1 (Fer 27)
Fifth-placed FC Twente came from behind to grab a point against Heracles in the ‘Derby of the East’ which spoiled the home side’s chances of European football next term.
Heracles started well and were ahead after 7 minutes gone, Thomas Bruns capitalised on poor defending from a Dragan Paljic through ball. Twente went in search of a goal, and after Luc Castaignos missing a good chance they finally did score, as creative midfielder Leroy Fer (rumoured to joining Everton in England’s Premier League) equalising on 27 minutes.
Both teams attacked looking the second goal in the second half with Everton coming the closest smashing an effort against the post and failing with the rebound. At the end of the game, the Brazilian striker was in tears as he left the pitch, as rumour has it that could be on his way in the summer after seven years at the club.
Heracles Almelo slip down to 11th with their chances of reaching the European play-offs slim, while FC Twente are overtaken in fifth by FC Utrecht.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Kees Luijckx of NAC is hunted by Roda’s Sanharib Malki
Roda joins VVV in the relegation playoffs after losing an eight-goal thriller away in Breda five goals to three. The visitors took a 3-1 lead with first-half goals from Frank Demouge and midfielder Roly Bonevacia (on-loan from Ajax) with former Ajax player Mitchell Donald netting a third just after half-time. NAC’s Brazilian defender Eric Botteghin scored in the 18th minute to level the scores at 1-1 but Breda were overwhelmed by Roda JC, then came the outstanding comeback orchestrated by the sensational Anthony Lurling.
Rick ten Voorde got the result back to 3-2 with a good effort just before the hour and Lurling grabbing his first of two beautiful goals minutes later with a wonderful strike. A 75th minute Elson Hooi goal put NAC in front before Lurling smashed home a spectacular long-range hit to claim all three points.
NAC Breda now are placed in mid-table obscurity with nothing to play for heading into the last week of fixtures with Roda having the worry of the relegation playoffs.
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.
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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.
