Dirk Kuyt hat-trick helps Feyenoord secure Eredivisie title

14 May 2017 17:24

Feyenoord are Eredivisie champions for the first time since 1999 after a 3-1 final day win over Heracles.

Captain Dirk Kuyt scored twice to give Feyenoord a 2-0 half-time lead at De Kuip and completed his hat-trick late on.

The former Liverpool and Fenerbahce forward is in his second spell at Feyenoord and opened the scoring in the first minute.

It was the Holland international's 100th Feyenoord goal and strike number 101 followed after 12 minutes as any nerves were settled early on.

Fireworks saw the celebrations start early for Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team before Kuyt scored a third from the penalty spot.

Peter van Ooijen replied with a consolation for Heracles.

It was the Rotterdam side's 15th title, ending an 18-year wait for glory.

Ajax, the 33-times champions, were poised to pounce if Feyenoord slipped up.

Ajax named the youngest starting line-up in the 61-year history of the Eredivisie, with an average age of 20 years and 139 days.

The Amsterdam side won 3-1 at Willem II but had to settle for the runners-up spot as Feyenoord succeed PSV Eindhoven as champions.

Ajax led 1-0 at half-time through Kasper Dolberg's strike and Davinson Sanchez doubled the lead three minutes into the second half.

Davy Klaassen added a third, with Jari Schuurman netting for Willem II.

Roda JC fell into the relegation play-off spots after a 3-0 loss at Vitesse Arnhem, who finished fifth.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored twice and on-loan Chelsea forward Lewis Baker added a late third, while Roda had Mitchell Paulissen sent off.

Martin Pusic scored twice as Sparta Rotterdam climbed above Roda with a 3-1 win at relegated Go Ahead Eagles.

NEC Nijmegen won 2-0 at Heerenveen to also leapfrog Roda, with Arnaut Groeneveld and Taiwo Awoniyi on target. However, it was not enough to lift them out of the bottom three and they also face a relegation play-off.

Third-placed PSV Eindhoven completed their campaign with a 4-1 win over PEC Zwolle.

Hector Moreno, Santiago Arias, Sam Lammers and Bart Ramselaar were on target as PSV scored four times in the final 12 minutes to answer Ted van de Pavert's first-half opener.

Fourth-placed FC Utrecht won 3-2 at sixth-placed AZ Alkmaar.

Seventh-placed FC Twente lost 5-3 to FC Groningen, who finished two points behind them in eighth.

Oussama Idrissi scored twice for the visitors, who led 4-1 at half-time.

ADO Den Haag claimed a 4-1 win over Excelsior.

Sherlado Becker, Mike Havenaar, Abdenasser El Khayati and Wilfried Kanon were on target for the hosts.

Source: PA