Feyenoord suffers shock loss, title race goes to final day

After 18 years without winning the title, Feyenoord faces a nervous wait to seal Eredivisie glory this season.

Published : May 07, 2017 22:41 IST

Feyenoord missed a chance to win the Eredivisie title as it suffered a shock 3-0 away defeat to Excelsior.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side, seeking a first title since 1999, could have ensured it held an unassailable advantage over closest challenger Ajax with just one match left to play.

But instead it suffered a stunning loss which, coupled with Ajax's easy 4-0 home win over bottom-of-the-table Go Ahead Eagles, means the title race instead goes to the final day of the season.

Feyenoord fell apart in the second half, goals from Nigel Hasselbaink, Stanley Elbers and Ryan Koolwijk earning fellow Rotterdam side Excelsior a shock triumph, which it celebrated joyously.

Ajax's win came courtesy of Justin Kluivert, Kasper Dolberg, Frenkie de Jong and Mateo Cassierra, the points already wrapped up before Marcel Ritzmaier's red card for the visitor.

Feyenoord is now one point clear of Ajax with a superior goal difference, but has lost three of its last nine games in what has been a nervous finish to the campaign.

Van Bronckhorst's men get another chance to win the title next Sunday when it is at home to ninth-placed Heracles – a side which still has something to play for, given the Europa League play-offs are within its reach.

Europa League semi-finalist Ajax, meanwhile, is away to 12th-placed Willem II and must win to have a realistic chance of the title.

Ajax will be hoping for a better experience of the final day of the season after last year's nightmare. 

It went into the final weekend of 2015-16 leading the league, only to lose out on the title to PSV as it failed to beat De Graafschap.

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