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Eredivisie Wrap: Groningen clinch Euro spot, Van Bommel sees red in final game

SoccerNews in Eredivisie 12 May 2013

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Eredivisie champions Ajax ended the season with a 2-0 win at Groningen, who narrowly sealed their place in the UEFA Europa League play-offs.

Frank De Boer’s side, who wrapped up top spot with a 5-0 victory at home to relegated Willem II last Sunday, took an eighth-minute lead through Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
Ryan Babel saw an effort ruled out for offside before substitute Danny Hoesen finally doubled Ajax’s advantage in the 72nd minute, just four minutes after replacing the former Liverpool winger.
The last two Europa League play-off spots were the focal point during Sunday’s final fixtures, with the top six and bottom three already confirmed.
However, there was no movement in the standings as all four teams with a chance of European action next season suffered defeats, including seventh-placed Groningen.
Heerenveen remained eighth despite a 1-0 loss at strugglers Roda JC, with Krisztian Nemeth scoring the decisive goal in the 31st minute.
ADO Den Haag could have secured seventh place with three points at FC Zwolle’s IJsseldelta Stadion but suffered a 4-2 defeat.
Fred Benson grabbed a brace for Zwolle before Den Haag striker Charlton Vicento was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Rochdi Achenteh with half an hour remaining.
Santi Kolk and Rydell Poepon managed to score for the vi
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sitors but Zwolle immediately regained their two-goal cushion each time, thanks to Mustafa Saymak and then Youness Mokhtar four minutes from time.
Tenth-placed AZ Alkmaar also failed to climb into the Europa League qualifying spots as they were beaten 2-0 at relegated Willem II, in which defender Giliano Wijnaldum headed into his own net.
PSV Eindhoven had already secured second place and their UEFA Champions League qualifying spot ahead of Feyenoord, but suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Twente.
Mark van Bommel was sent off in his final career appearance before retirement for a crunching tackle on Twente’s Dusan Tadic.
PSV were already trailing 3-1 after goals from Luc Castaignos, Nacer Chadli and Willem Janssen, while Dries Merten converted a penalty for the visitors at the De Grolsch Veste.
Feyenoord ended the season level on points with PSV after a solitary strike from Graziano Pelle secured three points at home to NAC Breda.
Elsewhere, VVV beat Vitesse 1-0, RKC Waalwijk overcame NEC 2-1 at the Goffertstadion and Utrecht netted three second-half goals in a comfortable victory over Heracles.

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