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PSV retain the Dutch title on a dramatic afternoon (PSV.nl)

29 apr 2007 - Source: PSV.nl

This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl

PSV Eindhoven have won the Dutch title for the third season in a row. They had to draw on all their resources in their 5-1 win over Vitesse at the Philips Stadium on the final day of the 2006-2007 campaign. PSV won the title for the twentieth time on a particularly scintillating afternoon in an incredibly thrilling and nerve-racking game. Ronald Koeman’s team pulled off a 5-1. win, clinching the their sixth title in the space of eight years by the narrowest of margins. AZ suffered a stunning 3-2 defeat against Excelsior in Rotterdam, while Ajax enjoyed only a 2-0 win over Willem II in Tilburg. PSV were level on 72 points with AZ and Ajax, but AZ had a superior goal difference when the games got underway. The 2-0 win moved Ajax up to 49 in goal difference, while PSV finished 50.
Roared on by the home crowd, PSV burst out from the blocks. Only six minutes were on the clock, when Addo’s header rattled the bar. Two minutes later PSV opened the scoring when Alex headed home from a Farfán corner. The hosts wanted more and two minutes later they found the target again. Afellay struck a sweet shot; Koné failed to pounce on the rebound, but Farfán did. The Philips Stadium erupted and the loyal red-white home fans supported their favourite team vociferously. They were reduced to silence for a few moments, though, after Vitesse pulled a goal back. Gomes failed to stop a curling free kick taken by Janssen, but PSV soon pulled themselves together and moved forward again. Cocu as well as Farfán came close to scoring on 26 minutes, but the clear chances did not materialize into a third goal. The home fans in the sold-out Philips Stadium were obviously informed of the results on the other pitches and when they learnt that AZ, reduced to ten men, were having a tough time against Excelsior in Rotterdam and that Ajax were leading by only one goal against Willem II in Tilburg, the sky-high tension grew and grew. The faithful PSV fans desperately wanted PSV to score more goals, while tempers flared up at times on the pitch. The supporters particularly whistled their dissatisfaction at Vitesse goalkeeper Stojkovic, who was continually guilty of deliberate time-wasting. PSV got a great opportunity straight after the restart, but substitute goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen did well to deny Farfán’s effort from the turn. Seconds later Farfán hit the bar, while Koné sent his shot agonizingly wide of the post. Most fans must have been suffering from cardiac arrhythmia by then and they were desperate when Farfán missed the goal by just one inch. But on 58 minutes they had again reason to celebrate: Afellay created some space before beating the goalkeeper with a curling shot 3-1. PSV’s confidence was booming and the crowd at the Philips Stadium got up and urged the players forward. Kromkamp delivered a cross that Cocu controlled well before setting up Farfán, who slotted home from close range: 4-1. Koné then found the net, but to the dismay of the crowd the goal was disallowed.
Koeman brought on Kluivert for Mendez in a final bid to snatch the title in the remaining fifteen minutes and the striker immediately got a chance, but blasted wide of the goal. But Cocu did find the target soon afterwards, when the ball fell to him in a crowded penalty area; 5-1. Zeefuik came on for Koné in the closing stages, while Jason Culina took over from Afellay who had been outstanding. Cocu fired across the goal in stoppage time, but then the final whistle went and the crowds and players alike were allowed to finally start huge celebrations! <b>PSV RETAN THE TITLE</b>