PSV claim Eredivisie crown

By Berend Scholten

UEFA Champions League semi-finalists PSV Eindhoven prepared perfectly for Tuesday's first leg against AC Milan by clinching their fourth Eredivisie title in six years after defeating SBV Vitesse 3-0 at the Philips stadium.

First-half breakthrough
Third-placed AZ Alkmaar's 3-2 defeat at FC Utrecht on Wednesday night had given Guus Hiddink's side the chance to secure their 18th Dutch league title with four rounds of matches still to play, and the Eindhoven club duly grasped the opportunity. With the Milan match in mind, Hiddink rested a number of first-team regulars, but PSV were quickly into their stride and took the lead in the 23rd minute through Ji-Sung Park.

Title secured
The goal relaxed the home side, and the three points were all but secured a minute before half-time when captain Mark van Bommel doubled their advantage. The home fans began to celebrate as the second half wore on and victory - and the title - were wrapped up by Gerald Sibon with three minutes to go.

Ajax struggle
Three days after Willem II shocked them in the Dutch Cup semi-final, AFC Ajax were four minutes from failing to overcome another lowly side before Ioannis Anastasiou saved their blushes against second-from-bottom De Graafschap. He headed the only goal of the game to deny the visitors, who played for over an hour with ten men following Darije Kalezic's dismissal.

Alkmaar denied
The victory took the side four clear of UEFA Cup contenders Alkmaar who lost for the fourth time in five matches at RKC Waalwijk. Things had looked positive for Co Adriaanse's side when Barry Opdam broke the deadlock midway through the first half. But Thomas Vermaelen soon equalised before Robert Fuchs made it 2-1 in the 87th-minute.

Double hat-trick
Nicky Hofs also scored late as goals from he and André Bahia helped Feyenoord return to winning ways at FC Groningen, while Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Georgios Samaras both scored hat-tricks as SC Heerenveen defeated RBC Roosendaal 7-1. The other sides in contention for the final UEFA Cup spot, FC Twente and FC Utrecht, drew 2-2.

Willem II win
The best FC Den Bosch can do now is climb into a relegation play-off position after drawing 2-2 at NEC Nijmegen, leaving them 14 points adrift of an ADO Den Haag side which lost 4-1 at home to Roda JC. Willem II were also victorious on their travels, triumphing 2-1 at NAC Breda.