The PSV football players became national champions for the first time in club history on Friday evening. The Eindhoven team secured the title in the penultimate round of the Women’s Eredivisie by beating ADO Den Haag 2-0 at home.
After the victory, coach Roeland ten Berge’s team can no longer be overtaken by number 2 Ajax, which won 3-1 against AZ, and number 3 FC Twente, which defeated NAC Breda 3-0. The scorers in Eindhoven were Riola Xhemaili and Fenna Kalma.
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PSV started the match in De Herdgang Stadium strongly, which was preceded by a fire show. The Eindhoven team took the lead after just three minutes. A cross from veteran Renate Jansen from the left flank reached Swiss international Xhemaili, who finished in the short corner. Jansen missed a chance to make it 2-0, a marker ended up just wide of the post. In the final phase of the first half, ADO, which is still fighting against relegation, got into the match better.
Even after the break, PSV had difficulty breaking away from ADO. In the 70th minute, Liz Rijsbergen had a great chance, but she collided with ADO goalkeeper Barbara Lorsheyd from close range. Competitors Ajax and Twente had now taken a safe lead in their matches, which meant that PSV had to win to become champions. In the 76th minute, Kalma, who had come into the team for Jansen, made it 2-0. After a shot by Nina Nijstad, Kalma was in the right place to tap in the rebound.
For seasoned Jansen (35) it is the seventh national title in the Women’s Eredivisie, no player has equaled her. Jansen won the title five times with FC Twente and once with ADO Den Haag, in 2012 with Sarina Wiegman as trainer.
“This one is perhaps the most special, in my very last year,” Jansen said to ESPN after the match. “I’m really proud of everyone, it’s just fantastic.”
“Last year we were so close and now we finally get it,” said captain Laura Strik at ESPN. “This club simply deserves that.” Last season, PSV finished equal on points with champion FC Twente, with a lower goal difference.
