Ajax was held to a shock 1-1 draw at second-bottom De Graafschap on a dramatic final day of the Eredivisie season, handing rival PSV a second consecutive league title.

The two teams came into the game with identical records of 25 wins and 81 points from 33 games, but Ajax held a superior goal difference by six and knew a victory would almost certainly secure the crown.

It looked like Frank de Boer's side was on track to get the win it required to seal the title on Monday (AEST) thanks to Amin Younes's early goal, but Bryan Smeets's equaliser after 55 minutes cost it glory as PSV kept up its side of the bargain with a 3-1 victory away to PEC Zwolle.

PSV's win  – thanks to two strikes from Luuk de Jong and Jurgen Locadia's opener – ensured it finished the season with six straight wins as Ajax paid the price for two draws in its last four games after its 2-0 win in Eindhoven in March had previously looked like proving decisive.

The PSV match finished over two minutes before that of Ajax, with players and coaches waiting nervously as they listened to phones and radios during a lengthy stoppage-time period at De Graafschap – just as their supporters had done for much of the second half.

Confirmation that De Graafschap had held on was then greeted with jubilant scenes as the PSV players ran over to the travelling support, while demoralised Ajax players were sprawled on the ground as a frustrated Frank de Boer marched down the tunnel.

PSV, also crowned champion last season to end a run of four successes for Ajax, now has 23 titles compared to Ajax's 33.