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PSV in control of title race after Blokzijl's stoppage-time equaliser thwarts Ajax
The Eredivisie title race is now in PSV's hands after late drama saw Ajax held by Groningen on Wednesday.
Thijmen Blokzijl swung the Eredivisie title race into PSV's favour by snatching a 2-2 draw for Groningen against Ajax with a 99th-minute equaliser on Wednesday.
Blokzijl levelled in the deep depths of stoppage time at Euroborg, thwarting Ajax, who seemed set for victory after Steven Berghuis's right-wing cross teed up Wout Weghorst with 22 minutes remaining, putting them 2-1 up.
Anton Gaaei had earlier seen his opening goal for Francesco Farioli's side cancelled out by Thom van Bergen, before two Ajax substitutes combined for what seemed to be the pivotal moment.
Groningen were really up against it when Luciano Valente was sent off for an ugly 93rd-minute foul on Jordan Henderson, but they rallied to deal a huge blow to Ajax's hopes.
The last-gasp draw saw Ajax drop to second with a game to play, and a point behind PSV, who smashed Heracles 4-1 at the same time after Malik Tillman and Ismael Saibari stole the show.
Tillman opened the scoring 18 minutes into the clash at Philips Stadion before teeing up the first of two Saibari strikes.
United States international Tilman grabbed another before the interval as PSV coasted into half-time leading 4-0, with substitute Mario Engels then scoring a late consolation for the 14th-placed visitors.
PSV now know a win away at Sparta Rotterdam next Sunday will secure top-flight glory, regardless of Ajax's result at home to Twente.
Data Debrief: Milestone Berghuis efforts cannot stop free-flowing PSV
Berghuis marked his 350th Eredivisie appearance with a 10th assist against Groningen, with only Dusan Tadic providing more against one opponent in the competition this century (12 against Heerenveen).
His delightful curling cross seemed set to decide a hard-fought clash, in which Ajax only accumulated 0.88 expected goals to Groningen's 1.80, until the last-gasp drama.
The same cannot be said for free-flowing PSV, who became the first team since Ajax in 1981-1984 (three seasons) to score 100+ goals in consecutive Eredivisie seasons, doing so for the first time in club history.
PSV are also the first ever team to have six players with 10 or more goals for a club in one Eredivisie season.
Remarkably, Peter Bosz's side have scored 35 more goals in the competition than Ajax this campaign, and that could prove decisive if goal difference comes into play.