Netherlands round-up: Ajax claim Dutch crown

AFC Ajax won the Eredivisie championship for the 28th time in their history when they beat NEC Nijmegen 2-0 today.

Mido opener
Ajax's goals were scored by Egyptian striker Mido Ahmed Hossam in the 25th minute and Andy van der Meyde in the 45th minute. It is Ajax's first title success in three years and they finished the season on 73 points, five more than last season's champions PSV Eindhoven, who were held to a 2-2 draw by De Graafschap.

'Team played the game well'
Coach Ronald Koeman, who took the reins last December, said: "There was a bit of anxiety but the team played the game well. We took it seriously and we were helped by the fact that Graafschap were leading 2-0 at one stage."

Not enough
PSV, who needed a win to stand any chance of retaining their title, trailed 2-0 at the break after two goals by Martijn Meerdink. Dennis Rommedahl and Mateja Kezman replied in the second half for the Eindhoven club. UEFA Cup finalists Feyenoord - who, as the third-placed side, were already assured of a place in the third qualifying round of next season's UEFA Champions League regardless of their result this afternoon - drew 0-0 at Willem II.

Safety fears
At the bottom of the table, Sparta Rotterdam could only manage a goalless draw at home to FC Groningen - a result that secures the visitors' top-flight survival and consigns Sparta to a relegation play-off against an FC Den Bosch side beaten 1-0 at home by AZ Alkmaar, Jamal Dibi the scorer.

No worries
Elsewhere, SC Heerenveen, who had already qualified for next season's UEFA Cup, fought out a goalless draw at home with FC Twente and SBV Vitesse, who will also compete in Europe next season, lost 3-2 at RKC Waalwijk. Jochen Janssen, Yuri Cornelisse and Robert Fuchs netted for Waalwijk and Matthew Amoah and Tim Cornelisse for the visitors.

Blank sheets
The two remaining fixtures in Holland both finished goalless. Former FC Barcelona goalkeeper Ruud Hesp kept a clean sheet for SC Fortuna Sittard against Roda JC in his final league appearance before retiring, while FC Utrecht and NAC Breda also drew 0-0.