Ajax Amsterdam have become the new Eredivisie champions after defeating former leaders FC Twente 3-1 at the ArenA. De Jong’s double and an own goal brought Frank de Boer’s side their 30th title in club history. Ajax have also ended a seven-year drought, their previous championship success dating from the 2003-04 season. Janssen also scored a consolation for Michel Preud’homme’s squad, but Twente needed two more goals to secure the championship, something which they failed to accomplish within 40 minutes.
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Twente could have been the ones to hoist the trophy had they managed to win a point on ArenA. Unfortunately, the visitors were unable to stop the best team in the Eredivise from scoring three goals last weekend, Twente’s poor defending allowing the home side dominating their half. On the other side, the away side did manage to create several clear chances but Vermeer’s great shape denied them from staying ion touch with a victory or a draw.
Ruiz was the first though to miss a great opportunity. Twente could have opened the lead early in the first minute, but the right striker fired his shot straight at Vermeer from close range. Ajax’s first reply came in the 23rd minute through de Jong who brought the first lead on ArenA thanks to a lovely finish from the left which followed a perfect cross from the right. The striker beat Mihaylov into the far post to the delight of a full stadium. Ten minutes later Landzaat missed a big opportunity, failing to meet a superb delivery from the left which traveled across the face of the goal.
The 46th minute found the Twente midfielder scoring, but into the own goal. Another cross from right, meant to meet de Jong, was headed goalwards by Landzaat for a 2-0 lead. The second half started though with a screamer for the visitors. Janssen was picked on the edge of the box only to fire it into the top right hand corner for a big celebration. Thus, Twente were just one goal from the championship, while Ajax were condemned to score at least one more goal to stay safe. Which they did. De Jong made it 3-1 in the 78th minute following a perfect combination play on the edge of the box, the striker beating Mihaylov for the second time with a superb lob.
It went 3-1 as Ajax have won their first title since 2004. Frank de Boer’s side ended the season with 73 points, while Twente gathered 71 in 34 games. PSV are third with 69 points, while former champions AZ Alkmaar finished fourth with 59 points. Concerning the top scorers, Bjorn Vleminckx of NEC is first with 23 goals, Dmitri Bulykin of ADO Den Haag is second with 21 and Roda JC’s Mads Junker goes third with 20 goals.
Ajax Amsterdam – Vermeer; Boilesen, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, van der Wiel; Anita, Eriksen, de Zeeuw; Ebecilio, Sulejmani, de Jong. Reserves: D. Blind, A. Ooijer, E. Enoh, D. Cvitanich, Oleguer, A. Ozbiliz, J. Verhoeven.
FC Twente – Mihaylov; Rosales, Wisgerhof, Douglas, Buysse; Brama, Janssen, Landzaat; Ruiz, Chdli, de Jong. Reserves: M. Janko, E. Bajrami, D. Tiendalli, S. Boschker, T. Leurges, O. John, R. Bengtsson.
