Netherlands round-up: PSV closing in

PSV Eindhoven moved within touching distance of the Eredivisie title with a 2-0 win against FC Utrecht on the penultimate day of the league season.

PSV in charge
With one match to play, PSV maintained their three-point advantage over second-placed AFC Ajax and have a superior goal difference. An early goal from Arnold Bruggink, who converted Mark van Bommel's pass in the third minute, gave PSV the perfect start and it was 2-0 on the half-hour as Van Bommel was brought down inside the penalty area and Mateja Kezman converted the resulting spot-kick to confirm the victory.

Away win
Ajax were 2-1 winners away to FC Twente, with captain Cristian Chivu opening the scoring 20 minutes into the second half with a penalty after Andy van der Meyde had been fouled. Rafael van der Vaart doubled the lead eight minutes from time, scoring from Van der Meyde's pass, and Ajax held on despite Collins John's last-minute strike.

Feyenoord frustrated
Feyenoord remained third but cannot catch Ajax and missed out on a place in next season's UEFA Champions League as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Willem II. James Quinn headed in a Danny Landzaat pass to give the home side the lead inside the third and Bonaventure Kalou's second-half equaliser was not enough for Feyenoord.

Road take fourth
Roda JC secured their fourth place and a place in the UEFA Cup with a 1-0 win at home to RKC Waalwijk, Yuri Cornelisse scoring the only goal of the game after 14 minutes.

NAC into fifth
NAC Breda moved into fifth place, the final UEFA Cup qualifying place, with a 4-0 win against AZ Alkmaar, with Rob Penders, Alfred Schreuder, Orlando Engelaar and Marcel Koning all finding the net. NAC climbed above NEC Nijmegen, whose match against FC Zwolle ended goalless.

Resounding victory
SC Heerenveen were comprehensive 6-0 winners at home to RBC Roosendaal, and led 4-0 after 25 minutes through Mika Nurmela, Gerald Sibon, Romano Denneboom and John de Jong. De Jong and Deniel Jensen added further goals in the second period.

Hopes raised
De Graafschap's hopes of avoiding automatic relegation were boosted by a 1-0 at home against FC Groningen, with Davy Zafarin scoring the only goal of the game two minutes from the end of the first half.

Goals galore
De Graafschap joined SC Excelsior on 23 points, who drew 4-4 against SBV Vitesse. Strikes from Said Boutahar, Brian Pinas and Steve Olfers gave Excelsior the lead three times, but two Matthew Amoah goals and Gert Cleassens brought the visitors level on each occasion. Amoah's third goal 12 minutes from time seemed to have given Vitesse the victory only for Mounir El Hamdaoui to earn the home side a draw with four minutes left to play.