FC Twente kept their cool on the last day of the Eredivisie season, beating a game PEC Zwolle 2-1 to secure third place in the league table, which gives them a chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season. Their rivals for the third spot, AZ Alkmaar, drew 3-3 with FC Utrecht despite leading 3-0 at halftime. Before the match, Twente was two points ahead of AZ, with one goal the difference in goal difference. It was a dramatic day in the race for the third spot, with plenty of twists and turns.
Feyenoord came back from being two goals down to win 4-2 on Sunday against FC Utrecht. The Rotterdammers were a goal down within two minutes, but Igor Paixao, an own goal, David Hancko, and youngster Leo Sauer scored to ensure that the Rotterdammers got all three points.The victory closes the gap to seven points with league leader PSV, who lost for the first time in the league this season on Saturday against NEC Nijmegen.
PSV failed in their quest to break the all-time record of most consecutive wins in the Eredivisie on Sunday. The Eindhovenaren equaled the record held by Guus Hiddink’s side in the 1987-88 season last week but could not become the new record holders. Despite an early goal from Johan Bakayoko, Peter Bosz’s side was held in Utrecht after Othman Boussaid equalized for the home side.
Feyenoord drop to fifth as AZ win in De Kuip, Ajax march on
Myron Boadu tucks away the winner for AZ. Photo: ANP/Ed van de Pol
AZ Alkmaar dealt a blow to Feyenoord’s title hopes as Myron Boadu scored twice to inflict Dick Advocaat’s first defeat in De Kuip.
In an open game, Feyenoord twice equalised through Nicolai Jørgensen and Mark Diemers, but had no reply to Boadu’s close-range strike on 70 minutes, from a precise low cross by Calvin Stengs.
Advocaat admitted AZ were the better team. ‘They created chances from the mistakes we made and they have a lot of quality,’ he said. ‘We’re still in the hunt for European football. That’s the most important thing.’