PSV Eindhoven claim 4th consecutive Dutch league title

BRUSSELS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- PSV Eindhoven claimed their fourth consecutive Dutch premier league title on Sunday after scoring a narrow 1-0 victory over hosts Vitesse.

Knowing that a single point is needed to guarantee the title, PSV players dominated play, but failed to score in the first half. Two minutes into the second half, Serb international Danko Lazovic scored the only goal of the afternoon at the Gelredrome stadium in Arnhem.

This was the 21st premier league title for PSV, and automatically earned them a place in the 32-team UEFA Champions League competition next season.

PSV's arch rivals Ajax whipped lowly rated Heracles 5-1 in Amsterdam, but had to settle for second place for the second consecutive year.

Before the final match, Ajax, with a better goal difference than PSV, had their chances to take the title providing that PSV were upset by Vitesse.

Breda, Twente and Heerenveen finished 3rd to 5th on the final league table. They will join Ajax in the play-offs for the other berth in the UEFA Champions League.

Bottom-placed Excelsior of Rotterdam were relegated, while De Graafschap, 16th, and VVV Venlo, 17th, will play off to decide which team to be relegated.

Ajax' Dutch international Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was the top scorer of the league with 33 goals, followed by Blaise N'Kufo of Twente with 21 goals and Robin Nelisse of Utrecht with 17 goals.