Sun Apr 13 12:06:31 2008

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PSV fails to clinch title after draw with Twente

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Eindhoven, Netherlands (Sports Network) - PSV Eindhoven missed out on a chance to clinch its fourth straight Eredivisie title on Sunday as the club was held to a 1-1 draw by Twente at Philipsstadion.

A win would have been enough to take the crown, but PSV must now earn a draw at Vitesse next Sunday to ensure that the title stays in Eindhoven. Second- place Ajax trails PSV by six points after their game with Groningen was postponed due to crowd violence at the Euroborg stadium.

Ajax must win its last two games and have PSV lose its last match in order to win the league, but PSV has left the door open after drawing on Sunday.

The home supporters were ready to celebrate as PSV was poised to win the title in its final home match of the season.

However, things did not go quite as planned and Twente spoiled the party while also keeping themselves very much in contention for a spot in the Champions League playoffs.

Blaise Nkufo scored the opener for Twente in the 35th minute as the visitors took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The home side had trouble breaking down the Twente defense but a good run from Jefferson Farfan allowed the striker to break into the box and fire into the lower corner in the 68th minute to level the match.

PSV would have loved to have found the winner in the final 10 minutes, but Alcides shot wide from a good position and the celebrations were put on hold for at least another week.

NAC clinched a place in the top five by beating Heracles 1-0 on a goal from Edwin De Graaf in the 58th minute. Both Feyenoord and Heerenveen stumbled on Sunday, leaving the final spot in the Champions League qualification playoffs up for grabs.

The two teams will enter the final day level on 57 points after Feyenoord was beaten 3-1 by Willem II and Heerenveen squandered a two-goal lead and lost 4-2 to Sparta.

Venlo slipped to the bottom of the table after losing 4-1 to Roda, NEC downed Vitesse 1-0, Graafschap finished 1-1 with Utrecht, while AZ Alkmaar also shared the points in 1-1 fashion with Excelsior.