Eredivisie weekend round up: Ajax one win from the league title
Ajax are three points from title, Cambuur are relegated, while Groningen are victorious in the derby of the north writes Neil Adderley.
Ajax 4 v 0 Twente: Victory leaves Ajax three points from glory
Ajax go into the final round of games knowing a win over De Graafschap will seal a fifth Eredivisie title in six years.
Czech starlet Vaclav Cerny gave Frank de Boer’s men the lead on 37 minutes, but the title favourites didn’t have it all its own way as both Hakim Ziyech and Jerson Cabral failed to draw the sides level.
Ajax pushed forward in the second period and Mike van der Hoorn doubled the advantage before Viktor Fischer and Amin Younes settled the tie late on.
PSV Eindhoven 6 v 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden: Frisians relegated in Eindhoven
Cambuur were relegated from the Eredivisie as PSV looked to put the pressure on title rivals Ajax.
The champions came into the game level on points with the league leaders but with an inferior goal difference.
And Cocu’s men may well rue conceding two goals against the doomed visitors.
Chelsea loanee Marco van Ginkel’s 15th minute opener was cancelled out by Calvin MacIntosh, while Jack Byrne reduced a 31 deficit before half time.
PSV’s class told in a mostly one sided second period as goals from Adam Maher, Jetro Willems and Van Ginkel left Cambuur facing the drop to the Jupiler League.
PSV travel to PEC Zwolle for the final game of the season level on points with Ajax. However, the Amsterdammers remain six goals to the good.
Willem II 0 v 1 Feyenoord: Feyenoord seal third place and European football
Anass Achahbar proved the match winner for Dutch cup holders Feyenoord as the Rotterdammers claimed third place in the table.
The visitors arrived in Tilburg without the services of both Michiel Kramer and Dirk Kuijt, but Achahbar’s 57th minute strike was enough for Giovanni van Bronkhorst’s side.
The defeat for Willem II leaves the Tilburgers needing relegation play off rivals Excelsior to drop points in the final game of the season.
Vitesse Arnhem 1 v 3 Utrecht: Europa League play offs for Utrecht.
A dominant second half display in Arnhem secured a European play off spot for cup runnersup Utrecht.
Vitesse defender Guram Kashia had given the home side a deserved first half advantage.
However, an impressive Utrecht hit back in the second period through goals from Nacer Barazite, Ruud Boymans and Ramon Leeuwin.
Heerenveen 1 v 2 Groningen: Groningen triumph in derby of the north
Groningenspoilt the party in Heerenveenas goals from Oussama Idrissi and Albert Rusnak took the shine off veteran trainer Foppe de Haan’s farewell home game.
Things looked to be going to plan for De Haan as Sam Larsson danced through the Groningen defence before finding the net after 20 minutes.
But the lead lasted no longer than eight minutes as Idrissi fired home to bring the sides level.
And Rusnak’s second half strike sealed the win and leaves Groningen’s hopes of a Europa league playoff place in its own hands.
AZ Alkmaar 4 v 1 De Graafschap: European football sealed in Alkmaar
AZ came from behind to comfortably beat De Graafschap and virtually seal a Europa League ticket.
Despite going behind to a Mark Diemers goal AZ always looked the likely winner, and Eredivisie top scorer Vincent
Janssen bagged his 26th goal of the season from the spot to level the scores.
Attacking left back Ridgeciano Haps gave AZ a deserved lead on 22 minutes, while victory was secured as Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Joris van Overeem got on the scoresheet for the Alkmaar side.
NEC Nijmegen 1 v 2 Roda JC: Roda safe with win in Nijmegen
Roda guaranteed Eredivisie football next season after coming from behind to beat NEC.
Navarone Foor fortuitously gave the home side the lead on 25 minutes, before striker Christian Santos failed to double the advantage from the penalty spot.
And NEC were made to pay as Tom van Hyfte hit a stunning goal of the season contender on 45 minutes.
The wonderful volley galvanised Roda and Rydell Poepon sealed the precious victory for the visitors just after the break.
Heracles Almelo 1 v 1 ADO Den Haag: All square as Heracles seal Europa League playoff place
Heracles capped off a superb season by claiming a European playoff place with a draw against ADO.
French forward Edouard Duplan fired ADO into a 60th minute lead, but Heracles pushed for the all important equaliser and were finally rewarded when substitute Paul Gladon struck to level matters with two minutes on the clock.
Excelsior 2 v 2 PEC Zwolle: Excelsior claim vital point
Excelsior held on to a crucial draw to leave themselves one point ahead of relegation playoff rivals Willem II.
Lars Veldwijk’s 15th minute goal gave the visitors the lead, only for Tom van Weert to bring the sides level on 59 minutes.
PEC regained the advantage through Queensy Menig, but an 80th minute Daan Bovenberg equaliser was enough for Excelsior to climb above Willem II and out of the relegation zone.
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