Minggu, 15 Mei 2011

Ajax beat Twente to claim championship

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Ajax lifted the Eredivisie trophy for the first time since 2004 after a 3-1 victory in their title decider against FC Twente at the Amsterdam ArenA today.

Siem de Jong drilled them in front and Denny Landzaat's own goal put the hosts two goals up early in the second half.

Theo Janssen quickly pulled a goal back but De Jong scored his second and Ajax's third to ensure there was no repeat of the late drama which saw Twente snatch victory in last week's KNVB Beker final between the same two sides.

"Our success is deserved," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer, who celebrated his 41st birthday today. "But we couldn't predict the outcome of this match, or the championship. Football can be so random. But things fell in our favour."

We couldn't predict the outcome of this match, or the championship. Football can be so random. But things fell in our favour.

Frank de Boer, Ajax coach

"Ajax put us under pressure and we never managed to free ourselves," said Twente coach Michel Preud'homme. "We're disappointed but the season overall was splendid. After winning the title last season, we had to re-construct a completely new team.

"Twente win the cup, reach the Europa League quarter-finals and finish second in the league. All things considered, it's a great season."

Ajax, one point behind their title rivals at the start of play, threatened through Miralem Sulejmani's drive over the bar before De Jong gave them the lead in the 23rd minute.

Gregory van der Wiel delivered a lofted cross from the right and De Jong expertly took the ball out of the air at the far post before thumping home from close range.

Landzaat went close at the right end in the 34th minute when he met Nacer Chadli's cross with a well-struck right-footed effort which flashed just wide.

Ajax put us under pressure and we never managed to free ourselves. We're disappointed but the season overall was splendid.

Michel Preud'homme, FC Twente coach

It turned sour for the midfielder a minute after the interval though, when he inadvertently diverted another Van der Wiel delivery past his own goalkeeper, Nikolay Mihaylov, to leave Twente 2-0 down.

They had trailed by the same scoreline in last week's cup final before hitting back to level the game at 2-2 and win it in extra time courtesy of Marc Janko's late header.

Janssen scored the equaliser on that occasion and he raised immediate hopes of a repeat performance today when he ran on to Bryan Ruiz's carefully weighted through ball and steered a shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.

There was to be no grand turnaround this time, though, and De Jong staved off a potentially nervous end to the game when Christian Eriksen played him in one-on-one with Mihaylov and he produced a composed finish to leave the bulk of the 47,000-strong crowd celebrating an overdue title.

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