PSV Eindhoven maintain Champions League hopes

PSV Eindhoven 2 Vitesse Arnhem 1

PSV Eindhoven kept alive their hopes of a place in next season’s Champions League qualifying round with victory today even as results elsewhere ended their Eredivisie title hopes.

Top two Ajax and FC Twente both won their games and, with the pair meeting in the final round of matches, top spot is beyond PSV.

Goals from Marcus Berg and Marcelo saw off Vitesse Arnhem and ensured PSV can overhaul Ajax for second should they beat FC Groningen in two weeks’ time and the Amsterdam giants fail to win.

The hosts were dominant throughout today and Balasz Dzsudzsak had two first-half free-kicks in dangerous positions, curling the second just wide having earlier hit the wall.

The breakthrough goal arrived seven minutes before half-time, Berg calmly placing the ball low past keeper Eloy Room from 12 yards.

Full-back Marcelo failed to find the net four minutes after the interval when well placed eight yards out, but was on the scoresheet 15 minutes later.

Dzsudzsak’s cross picked out the Brazilian, who headed past Room to double his side’s lead.

Room saved from Stefan Nijland and, when the substitute did find a way past the keeper six minutes later, he was denied by the post.

Against the odds, Vitesse introduced some tension into the closing stages when their only clear chance resulted in a goal with 12 minutes remaining, Jordi Lopez the man arriving eight yards out to sweep the ball home.

But the fightback failed to materialise and Dzsudzsak could have restored the two-goal margin late on, but his drive from the left of the penalty area rebounded off the far post.