Feyenoord, Ajax, AZ and PSV win 1-0 – Pelova grabs League Cup with Arsenal

The 24th playing round of the premier league is over. At the bottom, Cambuur connects with FC Groningen and nothing changes at the top, as Feyenoord, Ajax, AZ and PSV all win 1-0.

This concludes this blog. Thanks for following!

CAM-GAE | Ready in Leeuwarden

It was make or break for SC Cambuur Sunday night against Go Ahead Eagles. The bottom of the premier league desperately needed three points, but the home figures this season gave no reason for optimism.

Nevertheless, the Frisians won with convincing figures (4-1) and found themselves connecting with number seventeen FC Groningen.

CAM-GAE | 75′ GOAL CAMBUUR!

He was already twice the instigator and now he is also the finisher. Bangura crosses and Foor taps in. The second home win of the season is now very close.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 4-1

Ekkelenkamp and Kerk both strike twice for Antwerp

Antwerp FC reduced the gap on leaders Racing Genk in the Belgian soccer competition to 10 points on Sunday. Dutch coach Mark van Bommel’s team left KV Mechelen defenseless 5-0. Antwerp and Mechelen will face each other in the Belgian Cup final at the end of April.

Four of the five goals were credited to Dutchmen. Midfielder Jurgen Ekkelenkamp accounted for the first two goals. Gyrano Kerk provided the 3-0 in the closing stages of the first half, on a pass from Ekkelenkamp. Kerk scored again in the 70th minute. Substitute Michel-Ange Balikwisha set the final score at 5-0.

In addition to Ekkelenkamp and Kerk, Vincent Janssen also had a starting place at Antwerp. The striker gave the assist on Kerk’s 4-0.

Pelova wins League Cup with Arsenal

Victoria Pelova has won her first prize with Arsenal. The Orange international’s team captured the League Cup by beating Chelsea 3-1 in the final at sold-out Selhurst Park in London. That score had already been reached at halftime.

Pelova, who swapped Ajax for Arsenal in early January, came into the field after almost an hour of play. Over half an hour later, she was able to celebrate with her new teammates. Arsenal won the League Cup for the sixth time, making it the most successful club in the English cup tournament.

The injured Vivianne Miedema also walked in the lap of honor across the field after the game. The Arsenal and Oranje top scorer is rehabilitating from a serious knee injury, but came to cheer on her teammates at the cup final.

CAM-GAE | 57′ GOAL JOHNSEN!

So there’s the 3-1. Bjørn Johnsen has been a pest for the Go Ahead defense all game. Now the striker mercilessly punishes a mistake by Jamal Amofa.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 3-1

CAM-GAE | 56′ Chances Cambuur

First it’s Foor and then Breij almost slides in. Cambuur misses chances for the 3-1.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 2-1

Go Ahead is close to the equalizer so soon after halftime. Isac Lidberg slides the ball at the second post against the outside of the post. Cambuur escapes.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 2-1

The second half of Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles (2-1) begins. Will it be the first home win for Cambuur since the 3-0 victory over PSV on Oct. 1?

Watch the summary of Ajax – NEC

First goal in over a year for Mahi

Mimoun Mahi scored his first goal in the premier league since Jan. 23, 2022 (Sparta – Utrecht 0-3). Cambuur’s 15 premier league goals this season came from 10 different players, including Mahi’s today.

Heitinga cherishes ‘businesslike victory’ over NEC

Bergwijn after narrow Ajax win over NEC: ‘If it can’t be pretty, let’s get ugly’

Cambuur seemed to have lost it after Go Ahead’s geliksmaker, but Mahi caused joy in Friesland just before halftime.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 2-1

CAM-GAE | 43′ GOAL CAMBUUR!

Mimoun Mahi shoots beautifully into the far corner. Via the inside of the post the ball goes in.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 2-1

Go Ahead gained confidence from the 1-1 and at Cambuur it is suddenly gone. Fernandes almost makes the 1-2. His effort goes just wide.

CAM-GAE | 26′ GOAL GO AHEAD!

There’s a world goal from Go Ahead, though. Mats Deijl sees goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter standing a little too far in front of his goal and shoots the ball over the goalkeeper into the goal. It is equal again in Friesland.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 1-1

Almost a world goal from Johnsen! He takes the ball out of the air in one go, but the ball goes wide. Cambuur plays excellently in the opening phase.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 1-0

NEC coach Meijer: ‘Could have been more, Ajax struggled’

Cillessen disappointed after narrow loss at Ajax: ‘Could have taken point’

Ten Hag: ‘Lack of discipline unacceptable’

Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag was heavily disappointed in his players after the 7-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool. “This was not the Manchester United of recent weeks,” the Dutchman said at Viaplay. “We were countered away time and again after half-time. If some players then do not run back with us, that is unacceptable. Just like the height of this defeat. But in the end it’s only 3 points.”

Manchester United, which won the League Cup last weekend, should not dwell too long on this beating, Ten Hag believes. “I have had my say in the dressing room. I am curious about their interpretation,” he said of his players. “How are we going to process this match? That’s what it’s all about. In the end, we will move on. If you don’t give everything, this can happen.”

CAM-GAE | 13′ GOAL POINT Cambuur!

After a good combination with Navarone Foor, Michael Breij retrieves and sees Go Ahead goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange slip the ball between his legs. Will it happen? A home win for Cambuur?

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 1-0

CAM-GAE | 6′ First goal attempt

Cambuur draws the first goal attempt. Navarone Foor curls a free kick over the goal.

Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles 0-0

Well a banner, no Go Ahead fans. The decision of Mayor Buma of Leeuwarden to no longer allow away supporters at home matches of SC Cambuur this season is not appreciated.

The ball rolls at Cambuur – Go Ahead Eagles, the final game of the 24th round of the premier league.

Liverpool give United merciless beating (7-0)

Liverpool dealt Manchester United an unmerciful beating in the Premier League: 7-0. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah became the red heroes of Anfield with two goals each.

For Manchester United and coach Erik ten Hag, it is the second defeat in 21 official matches.

What a letdown for Manchester United at Liverpool: 7-0, by Roberto Firmino.

And that’s six for Liverpool against United: 6-0!

Lousy home series Cambuur

Will it happen tonight for Cambuur lost 11 of its 12 home games in the premier league this season. The exception was a 3-0 win against PSV on Oct. 1. Go Ahead Eagles did not win any of its last 4 away games in the premier league, losing 3 of them.

CAM-GAE | Setup Go Ahead

Painful day for Ten Hag, 5-0 for Liverpool

Ajax recorded its 1500th win in the premier league against NEC. Ajax is the first team to reach this number (PSV stands at 1374, Feyenoord at 1276). Ajax drew 399 times and lost 344 times.

1: Ajax – NAC 1-0 on September 2, 1957 (first premier league game). Goal Loek den Edel.

100: Ajax – GVAV 4-2 on September 10, 1961. Goals Cees Groot (3) and Henk Groot.

500: AZ – Ajax 2-3 on Sept. 15, 1979. Goals Dick Schoenaker, Tscheu La Ling and Ruud Krol.

1000: Ajax – Sparta 3-0 on Sept. 23, 2001. Goals Rafael van der Vaart and Mido (2).

15000: Ajax – NEC 1-0 on March 5, 2023. Goal Mohamed Kudus

4-0 meanwhile at Liverpool-United

CAM-GAE | Setup Cambuur

AJA-NEC | 90+5′ Finished

It wasn’t pretty by any means, but Ajax manages to win against NEC, keeping pace with leader Feyenoord.

Gakpo on target, scores again against United

Things are going very well at Liverpool for Cody Gakpo’s team, which is leading 3-0 against Manchester United. Just now, Gakpo scored his second of the match. On a pass from Salah, he poked the ball over De Gea for the 3-0.

AJA-NEC | 90+1′ Final offensive NEC

Only a few minutes left to play and NEC is pressing hard. No major chances have been created yet. Five minutes pass.

AJA-NEC | 77′ Match ripples on

NEC is chasing the equalizer, but it’s not doing much good yet. Ajax quietly waits and lurks for the 2-0.

Gakpo scores the 1-0 against United

AJA-NEC | 52′ GOAL AJAX!

With a stroke of luck, Ajax takes the lead against NEC. Kudus gets well in front of his man on a cross from the left by Tadic and, thanks to El Karouani’s leg, the ball rolls into the goal behind Cillessen.

AJA-NEC | 46′ Second half

The ball is rolling again in Amsterdam, where former Ajacied Lasse Schone has been left in the locker room. The Dane is too bothered by a tap he received in the first half.

No goals yet in the Arena, where Ajax mainly became dangerous with a few distance shots and NEC got some small chances from the counter.

AJA-NEC | 34′ NEC also dangerous

The match has become a little more balanced, with NEC getting some small chances now and then. Still 0-0 in the Arena.

AJA-NEC | 22′ Save Cillessen

Almost the 1-0 for Ajax, where Bergwijn can shoot in. But former Ajax player Cillessen taps the ball just wide.

AJA-NEC | 16′ Again Berghuis

This time he shoots hard from just outside the sixteen and Cillessen has to go to work. After a little over fifteen minutes of play, the Amsterdammers are mainly dangerous via these shots, and NEC has a lot of trouble getting out from under Ajax’s pressure. On the moments that they do succeed, the Nijmegen players are threatening.

AJA-NEC | 6′ Berghuis on the crossbar!

The first chance of the match is for the home team. Berghuis aims at the crossbar from outside the sixteen.

In the Johan Cruijff Arena, the match between Ajax and NEC started.

RKC-PSV | Match Report

PSV were able to celebrate an away win in the Eredivisie for the first time since November last year. The Eindhoven players got away well at RKC Waalwijk several times, but the victory at the regional rival was deserved: 0-1.

PSV is in calmer waters after wins over Sevilla, FC Twente and ADO Den Haag respectively. However, those three victories came about in Eindhoven, as outside the city of lights the Eindhovenites perform considerably less. PSV’s last away win was on Nov. 6 at Ajax (1-2).

AJA-NEC | Some facts in a row

– NEC starts with the same names as last weekend against Volendam (3-0). This is exactly the same lineup as in the 1-1 draw at home against Ajax on Jan. 8.

– Calvin Bassey starts in the Ajax base in the premier league for the first time since Jan. 26 (Ajax – Volendam 1-1). Ajax played evenly in each of the last 6 premier league games with Bassey in the base.

– Ajax has never lost to NEC at home in the premier league, taking a point in six of 41 encounters.

– In the cup, NEC did win in Amsterdam: 1-2 in 1994.

– In Nijmegen it was 1-1 in January.

– NEC’ers Schöne (201 matches) and Cillessen (101) played for Ajax.

– NEC, with Cillessen, only conceded 22 goals, one less than Ajax.

RKC-PSV | 90+5′ Finished

PSV books a difficult win in Waalwijk, keeping them level with number three Ajax, who are about to play against NEC.

RKC-PSV | 90+1′ Final phase breaks out

RKC goes full for the equalizer, with PSV having already come out dangerously a few times. Five minutes are coming up.

RKC-PSV | 77′ Another great chance for RKC

PSV really haven’t won this match yet. Lelieveld is completely free, gets the ball from Seuntjens and then lays wide to the incoming Jozefzoon. The former PSV player then shoots high over.

RKC-PSV | 63′ Great opportunity RKC

Veerman forfeits the ball after which Bel Hassani eventually finds himself in a promising position. His shot, however, goes just wide. Just before that, El Ghazi hit the bar for PSV. This game can still go either way.

RKC-PSV | 56′ De Jong sidelined

PSV must continue without captain Luuk de Jong, who sprains and has to go to the side with a sore ankle. El Ghazi is his replacement.

RKC-PSV | 52′ Kramer misses!

A perfect cross from Bel Hassani is headed by Kramer, but the long striker sees his effort go just wide.

AJA-NEC | Drafting Ajax

RKC-PSV | 45′ Second half started

The ball is rolling again in Waallwijk, where the home team has a slight hold on the previous games. RKC saved the most points after falling behind of any premier league team this season. The team came back from a deficit in 7 games this season, and even won 6 times. In doing so, it saved 19 points.

On the other hand, PSV gave away only 6 points after a lead this season, together with Sparta (5) and NEC (6) the least of all teams.

Ajax fans not welcome at De Kuip in cup semifinal either

No away fans will be welcome at the KNVB Cup semi-final between Feyenoord and Ajax in April. The Rotterdam city council announced this on Sunday.

At the league matches between Feyenoord and Ajax, supporters of the away club have not been welcome since 2009 due to serious disturbances in the past. Supporters of the club from Amsterdam were also not welcome at De Kuip in 2019 when Feyenoord and Ajax met in the semi-finals of the KNVB Cup. There is no reason for Rotterdam to deviate from that now.

Perfect final for Feyenoord opponents Shachtar Donetsk

The first half is over in Waalwijk. PSV go into the locker room with a deserved 1-0 lead.

RKC-PSV | 35′ GOAL PSV!

Vaessen again miraculously manages to save, but a minute later it’s still a goal. Several PSV players hit the ball completely wrong, but Bakayoko did not. With a hard volley he hits the target.

RKC-PSV | 30′ Simons hits the crossbar

PSV’s next danger. After a smooth combination, Simons gets the ball on the edge of the sixteen. With a well-aimed shot he aims the ball at the bar. RKC is more than warned.

RKC-PSV | 19′ Vaessen saves RKC

Two very good chances for PSV, but RKC has Etienne Vaessen. First the goalkeeper stops a hard shot by Van Aanholt and then Silva kicks at the goal from close range. Again Vaessen manages to tap the ball away.

There is plenty happening in Waalwijk the first ten minutes. PSV is the dominant side as expected, but RKC is certainly competing and has already had a chance.

The match between the number 4 and 8 of the premier league has started.

RKC-PSV | About the lineups

– At PSV, Joël Drommel is back under the crossbar in an Eredivisie game for the first time since April 2. At the time, PSV played a 3-3 draw at FC Twente. Drommel got three goals in the first 25 minutes, but the Eindhoven players managed to get a draw. After this draw, Yvon Mvogo kept PSV’s remaining 6 premier league matches in 2021/2022.

– At RKC 1 change from the 1-4 win at Heerenveen on February 25: Lars Nieuwpoort replaces the suspended Shawn Adewoye. Nieuwpoort’s last league goal came against Jong PSV: the opening goal in a 2-3 loss to De Graafschap on Jan. 19, 2018.

– Luuk de Jong scored in each of his last 3 premier league games. The last time he scored 4 in a row in this competition was in March-April 2019 in his previous season at PSV: 7 goals in 6 consecutive appearances.

EXC-SPA | Match Report

Sparta has won the Rotterdam derby at Excelsior 4-1 to close to one point ahead of FC Twente, the number five in the Eredivisie that had stalled at 3-3 against sc Heerenveen on Saturday night.

The situation for Excelsior, which this season relies mainly on its home games (five of its six victories have come at Woudestein), is becoming dire, although Rotterdam’s third club (after Sparta and Feyenoord) still has three teams below them.

EXC-SPA | 90+2′ End of match

Finished in Rotterdam. Sparta gave full throttle for 15 minutes early in the second half, deciding the game against Excelsior. 1-4 was the final score.

RKC-PSV | Some facts in a row

– This match has been played 26 times before. RKC won four times and PSV emerged victorious seventeen times. The last two editions both ended in 1-4. Before that, it was precisely three times RKC won, the last win dating back to February 2014.

– In the first half of the season, PSV won 1-0 on Sept. 11 through a penalty kick by Gakpo in the 96th minute, which was utilized and hotly contested by RKC.

– Number eight on the league table RKC is in with a chance of making the playoffs for European soccer after four wins in the last six games. Number four PSV is unbeaten since the 1-0 defeat in and against Emmen in January, with three wins and two draws.

– RKC player Zakaria Bakkali made his premier league debut for PSV in August 2013 at the age of 17. The Belgian played a total of sixteen league games for the club from Eindhoven, in which he scored three goals. All three in the match against NEC. Florian Jozefzoon also has a past with PSV.

EXC-SPA | 77′ Tension from match

After the 1-4 Sparta believes it and Excelsior has nothing more to contribute. The game drags on at a slower pace and the sharpness is gone on both sides.

EXC-SPA | 60′ GOAL SPARTA!

Déjà vu? Again a good corner from Van Crooij and this time it is captain Bart Vriends who kicks in. Van Gassel might have been able to do more to stop the ball. So within fifteen minutes of halftime it is already 1-4.

EXC-SPA | 56′ GOAL SPARTA

Lauritsen headed in from Van Crooij’s corner, leaving Van Gassel hopeless. Excelsior’s goalkeeper was important moments before with a fantastic save on a shot by Verschueren. Sparta came out of the break fantastic and for Lauritsen it is his eighth goal of the season.

EXC-SPA | 49′ GOAL SPARTA!

A lightning-fast build-up gives Sparta the lead again. Arno Verschueren lays the ball beautifully ready for Koki Saito, who taps it past Van Gassel. Excelsior had to chase again.

EXC-SPA | 46′ Kickoff second half

We move on again in Rotterdam. The kickoff of the second half was slightly delayed by a few smoke flares on the field, but by now the ball is rolling again. On both teams, the same players are back on the field.

EXC-SPA | 45+2′ Rest in Rotterdam

Sparta started the game strongly and got to 0-1 early through an own goal by El Yaakoubi. Later Excelsior got into it better and that resulted in the equalizer just before halftime. After conceding fifteen goals in a row without scoring himself, Driouech brought an end to that sequence.

EXC-SPA | 45′ GOAL EXCELSIOR!

Driouech gets the ball at his feet in the sixteen with a bit of luck and passes Sparta goalkeeper Olij, who didn’t look very lucky this time. For Excelsior it is a deserved equalizer after they had been making the play for some time.

EXC-SPA | 40′ Beautiful saves Olij

After a sharp free kick by Lamprou, El Yaakoubi almost kicks the goal. Sparta goalkeeper Olij prevents the equalizer with a fine save. Not much later the goalkeeper also cleverly keeps a shot by Goudmijn out of his goal.

EXC-SPA | 33′ Great chance Lamprou

Lazaros Lamprou misses an unmissable opportunity. In a tangle, the ball suddenly lands at the feet of Lamprou just before the goal, who manages to miss the entire goal and shoot wide. It is Excelsior’s biggest chance so far.

EXC-SPA | 20′ GOAL SPARTA!

An own goal by El Yaakoubi puts Sparta up 0-1. The defender had to intervene after a low cross from Lauritsen and slid the ball right into his own net. El Yaakoubi could not do much else, because Van Crooij was already ready to tap the ball in.

EXC-SPA | 9′ Early substitution Excelsior

Excelsior top scorer Azarkan has to abandon his match early due to an injury. Driouech is his replacement.

EXC-SPA | 1′ Immediately a chance for Sparta

There Tobias Lauritsen was already close to the 0-1. The striker headed against goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel from close range.

EXC-SPA | 1′ We’re loose!

Excelsior has kicked off and the Rotterdam derby against Sparta is underway.

EXC-SPA | Some facts in a row

– This match has been played sixteen times before in the premier league. Both teams won six times and four times the game ended in a draw. Sparta’s last away victory over Excelsior in the premier league was in August 1986: it was 0-2 through goals by Böckling and Lengkeek.

– Earlier this league it was 1-0 for Sparta on January 14 at Het Kasteel through a goal in injury time by Joshua Kitolano.

– Number fifteen on the league table Excelsior lost five of its last six games, scoring only once in them. That was against Ajax. Excelsior is still two points above number sixteen FC Emmen and has the worst goal difference of the relegation candidates: -34.

– Number six Sparta lost its last two duels without scoring in them themselves. Sparta won only one of its last six games. That win was against Go Ahead Eagles.

– Sparta captain Adil Auassar has been suspended. He played three seasons for Excelsior, with whom he promoted to the premier league in 2014.

EXC-SPA | Setup Sparta

EXC-SPA | Drafting Excelsior

Good morning and welcome to the live blog of the premier league. Four matches are scheduled today. At 12:15 p.m., soccer Sunday begins with the Rotterdam derby between Excelsior and Sparta.

At 2:30 p.m., PSV plays visiting provincial rival RKC for three important points to keep connection with the top. At the end of the afternoon, Ajax will take on NEC at 4:45 p.m. to regain three points from leader Feyenoord.

The final game of the weekend is the match between Cambuur and Go Ahead Eagles. Both teams desperately need the points in the fight against relegation.