PSV women win first-ever Eredivisie title after victory over ADO Den Haag

PSV’s women claimed the first league title in the club’s history on Friday after a 2-0 home victory over ADO Den Haag. The win ensured the Eindhoven team secured the Women’s Eredivisie championship with one match still to play.

The win put Roeland ten Berge’s team out of reach of both Ajax and FC Twente. Ajax kept pace with a 3-1 victory over AZ, while Twente beat NAC Breda 3-0, but PSV’s triumph was sealed thanks to goals from Riola Xhemaili and Fenna Kalma in Eindhoven.

Backed by a pre-match fireworks show at Stadion De Herdgang, PSV made a fast start and went ahead within three minutes. Renate Jansen delivered a cross from the left that Swiss forward Riola Xhemaili converted at the near post.

Jansen nearly doubled the lead herself shortly after, but her chipped effort drifted narrowly wide. ADO Den Haag, meanwhile, improved late in the first half as they continued their fight to avoid relegation.

PSV found it difficult to shake off ADO in the second half. Liz Rijsbergen came close midway through the half, only to be stopped at point-blank range by goalkeeper Barbara Lorsheyd.

With both Ajax and FC Twente cruising to victories elsewhere, PSV knew only a win would secure the title. The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute when substitute Fenna Kalma reacted quickest to a rebound after Nina Nijstad’s effort, sealing a 2-0 victory and the championship.

The title marks a record seventh Women’s Eredivisie championship for 35-year-old Renate Jansen. No other player has won the league as many times. Before helping PSV to the title, she lifted the trophy five times with FC Twente and once with ADO Den Haag in 2012, when Sarina Wiegman was the team’s coach.

“This one may be the most special of all, in my very last year,” Jansen told ESPN after the match. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone, it’s just fantastic.”

“Last year we came so close, and now we’ve finally done it,” captain Laura Strik told ESPN. “This club simply deserves it.” Last season, PSV finished level on points with champions FC Twente but missed out because of an inferior goal difference.