Ajax clinch fourth successive Dutch Eredivisie title

Ajax celebrate their fourth successive title triumph

The Hague, April 28 Ajax captured their fourth successive Dutch football league championship and their 33rd in total by drawing 1-1 at Heracles Almelo.

With two match rounds remaining, Ajax had six points more than Feyenoord and needed one point at Heracles to secure the title, reports Xinhua.

Lasse Schone opened the scoring with a free-kick and also from a free-kick Simon Cziommer equalised on behalf of the home-team here Sunday.

With Heracles also needing one point to stay on the highest level both teams did not take many risks in the second half and the match ended in 1-1.

By winning their fourth successive league championship Ajax equaled a record, which had previously been achieved by HVV (1900-1903) and PSV (1986-1989 and 2005-2008).

Coach Frank de Boer has now won the Dutch league in each of his first four seasons as a head coach, something that had never previously been accomplished.

“We always try to make a good team,” De Boer told at the press conference. “The team is the most important. That was basically our secret in the past four years. Players play games, teams will be champions. Despite several new young players we were the most consistent.”

Feyenoord secured the second place and a berth in next season’s Champions League preliminary round by beating SC Cambuur 5-1 in Rotterdam.

Ruud Vormer, Tonny Vilhena (two goals), Graziano Pelle and Jean-Paul Boetius scored for Feyenoord, while Martijn Barto produced Cambuur’s consolation goal.

Third placed FC Twente defeated NEC 5-2 in Nijmegen, with goals by Kyle Ebecilio, Wout Brama, Dusan Tadic (two goals) and Jesus Corona. NEC scored via Geoffrey Castillion and an own goal by Nick Marsman.

PSV climbed to the fourth place after a 2-1 win over PEC Zwolle, which sensationally crushed Ajax 5-1 in last Sunday’s Cup final. Jurgen Locadia gave PSV the lead, Mustafa Saymak equalized and Bryan Ruiz became PSV’s match winner in the 74th minute.

Vitesse dropped from the fourth to the fifth place after a 2-2 draw against Go Ahead Eagles. Marnix Kolder and Jarchinio Antonia scored for the visitors and Guram Kashia and Davy Propper earned Vitesse a point.

The fourth placed team qualifies for the Europa League and sixth placed SC Heerenveen are also still in contention for the fourth place after a 4-1 win over FC Utrecht.