PSV hold nerve to retain Dutch crown

PSV Eindhoven secured a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title on the final day thanks to a 1-0 success at BV Vitesse that rendered AFC Ajax's victory academic.

Lazović winner
PSV travelled to the Gelredome in the knowledge they needed just one point to reclaim their crown and Danko Lazović (47) provided the only goal in Arnhem to condemn Ajax to second spot. The visitors had appeared nervous in the first 45 minutes but the game turned decisively on a substitution from coach Sef Vergoossen as he replaced top scorer Danny Koevermans with Lazović at half-time. The Serbian striker wasted no time in calming the nerves against his former club as he was freed by Jefferson Farfán and fired through the legs of goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen with his first touch.

Ajax second
Santi Kolk missed a chance to level and visiting custodian Heurelho Gomes saved from Gill Swerts and Remco van der Schaaf before Vitesse's hopes were finally extinguished when Sébastien Sensoni was sent off for a professional foul on Lazović. PSV qualify for the UEFA Champions League next term while second-placed Ajax, who beat Heracles Almelo 5-1, face the play-offs for a qualifying round berth in the same competition. Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored one of their goals to finish the campaign as the Eredivisie's top marksman with 34 strikes.

Play-off picture
NAC Breda, FC Twente and SC Heerenveen ended third, fourth and fifth to join the Amsterdam side in the play-offs. NAC were defeated 3-1 at home by NEC Nijmegen, Twente secured their spot by beating Willem II 2-0, while Heerenveen cruised past SC Excelsior 5-0 to edge out Feyenoord on goal difference. For Excelsior the defeat meant direct relegation after VVV Venlo triumphed 3-0 against De Graafschap to jump over them into 17th place. VVV and De Graafschap, who ended 16th, now face the promotion and relegation play-offs against teams from the second tier.