PSV take huge step towards title win after dramatic Groningen equalizer against Ajax
A dramatic last-minute goal from FC Groningen to make it 2-2 against Ajax has meant that PSV now only need to win the final game to ensure that they complete an incredible comeback in the Eredivisie title race. PSV now have one point more than the Amsterdammers, with an away game against Sparta Rotterdam their only game left. PSV beat Heracles 4-1 on the night.
Ajax have blown their grip on the title, having failed to win their last five games in the Eredivisie. Francesco Farioli’s team had a nine-point lead in the league title after beating PSV at the end of March. This pain was clearly felt on Wednesday night with some Ajax players in tears after the result.
The Amsterdammers even could have won the title on Wednesday night if they had beaten Groningen and PSV had lost to Heracles, an Eredivisie representative had traveled to the Euroborg in Groningen with the title in case the scenario occured.
PSV scored the first goal for the teams on the night with an element of fortune attached to it. A shot from Malik Tillman was deflected by the face of Heracles defender Damon Mirani into the goal in the 18th minute to make it 1-0 for Peter Bosz's team.
This was followed by another goal from the Eindhovenaren a minute later. A sloppy loss of possession in midfield resulted in Tillman playing in Ismael Saibari, who calmly finished the chance to double the Eindhoven lead.
The buoyant mood in the Philips stadium was halted in the 27th minute when Ajax took the lead in Groningen. Brian Brobbey made up for missing a chance earlier in the game by holding the ball up and laying it off to Anton Gaaei, whose shot from an acute angle went straight through Etienne Vaessen in the Groningen goal.
Despite this, PSV kept scoring with Saibari getting his second of the game with another easy finish before Tillman made it 4-0 before halftime with an incredible shot from around 30 yards high into the corner.
Groningen equalized in the 52nd minute. A brilliant cross from Stipe Resink was knocked into the goal by Thom van Bergen to make it 1-1, resulting in loud cheers by the PSV fans in Eindhoven.
Ajax retook the lead in the 68th minute. A cross by Steven Berghuis was knocked into the goal by Wout Weghorst, sending the traveling Ajax fans into wild celebrations.
It seemed all over for Groningen and PSV on the night when Luciano Valente, one of Groningen’s better players this season, was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Jordan Henderson in injury time. This resulted in a short confrontation between Ajax players and Groningen players, with Vaessen coming out of his goal to get involved.
PSV’s game had finished at this point, the Eindhovenaren winning 4-1 after Mario Engels got a consolation goal for Heracles. But many PSV fans decided to stay in the stadium and await the result of the other game.
This proved worth the wait as ten-man Groningen scored an incredibly dramatic equalizer in the 100th minute of play. A sloppy foul by Josip Sutalo gave Mats Seuntjens the chance to cross the ball into the box, and it was Thijmen Blokzijl who prodded the ball home to send the crowds in Groningen, Eindhoven, and Rotterdam, with Ajax arch-rivals Feyenoord, into wild celebrations.
A brawl followed the final whistle of the game. Camera footage shows Vaessen shouting something to Henderson, with Davy Klaassen taking offense. One of the Ajax coaching staff got involved with almost all players on both teams then getting involved in the melee.
Ajax face FC Twente at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday. The Amsterdammers know that their fate is no longer in their own hands as a PSV win against Sparta would mean that the title is heading to Eindhoven.
