European Football: Dutch League
AZ, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven were all in Contention for the Title
Three clubs, AZ, Ajax and PSV were level on points, separated only by goal difference, going into the final games in the Dutch League.
One of the closest title races that one could ever imagine was settled today in Holland. Going into the final game of the season three teams were level on 72 points. The overnight leaders were AZ Alkmaar with a positive goal difference of 53. Ajax were second with plus 47 goals while PSV Eindhoven were third one goal behind.
The majority of neutral Dutch fans were of the opinion that AZ deserved to win the title as they had been the most consistent team this season and produced the best and most attracting football for years. During the season they had lost only three games.
However, PSV had really made it difficult for themselves having led at a time by thirteen points. Their result on the penultimate weekend of the season had seen them concede their advantage by drawing at FC Utrecht when a late equaliser denied them three points.
AZ Almaar have had a good season in the UEFA Cup defeating Newcastle United to reach the quarter-finals of the competition before losing to Werder Bremen. Ajax failed to reach the group stages of the Champions League but PSV reached the last eight in that competition by defeating Arsenal but losing to Liverpool.
Tension was high for the final weekend’s games with all three clubs facing clubs in the lower half of the Dutch League. PSV in third place set about their task in the best possible way by scoring twice against Vitesse Arnhem in the first ten minutes through Alex and Farfan. The visitors reduced the lead within three minutes but in the second half PSV exerted themselves and scored three times without reply through Afellay, a second from Farfan and Cocu. Having won the game convincingly the outcome of the championship race depended on the other results.
Ajax were away to Willem II but a goal in each half from Emanuelson and Huntelaar secured their victory.
AZ Alkmaar were at Excelsior Rotterdam but after conceding an early penalty they levelled through Cziommer within four minutes. They went behind again after an hour but Koevermans equalised ten minutes later. Their cause was not helped when Van Dieren was sent off for a second bookable offence with fifteen minutes remaining. However, their fate was sealed when they conceded a goal in the final minute, they hadn’t done enough to win the title.
Ronald Koeman, the former Ajax coach who had only taken over at PSV Eindhoven this season, had ensured that his team had done enough to become Champions and win their third successive title on goal difference from Ajax - their big win giving them a single goal advantage. PSV now have automatic qualification into next season’s Champions League competition.
