PSV’s fans reacted with unbridled joy after discovering that Jordan Henderson’s Ajax had given them the advantage in the Dutch title race on Wednesday night.
Supporters were jumping on seats, players were sprinting around the pitch, and the club’s staff hugged at their Philips Stadion home after finding out the good news.
PSV lead the Eredivisie by one point with just a game to go after Ajax conceded a 99th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at Groningen.
Henderson is looking to lift his first trophy since the FA Cup with Liverpool in 2022 and Ajax looked on course to seal a 37th Eredivisie crown with a few games to go.
They needed just six points with five games to go, but have only picked up two points in four matches since then to set up an all-time ‘bottle job’.
PSV’s fans could barely contain themselves when Ajax choked the Dutch title on Wednesday
Jordan Henderson’s side conceded a 99th-minute equaliser to give PSV the title race lead
Ajax now trail their rivals by a point with one game to go – after leading by nine four games ago
Footage from PSV shows how anxious the players, staff, and fans had been while awaiting the result. There’s then a brief stage of disbelief before pandemonium breaks out.
The Eindhoven club still need to finish the job at mid-table Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, while Ajax will look to put pressure on as they face sixth-placed Twente.
Things have gone downhill for Ajax in recent weeks. They looked in strong form as they beat PSV, NAC Breda, and Willem II to set up what looked a serene final few weeks of the season.
But they then suffered an almighty 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Utrecht, before drawing 1-1 with Sparta Rotterdam and being beaten 3-0 by NEC Nijmegen.
All the same, things looked to be going well on Wednesday as Anton Gaaei and former Manchester United forward Wout Weghorst got on the scoresheet, while Luciano Valente was sent off for Groningen.
But like Thom van Bergen had earlier in the game, Thijmen Blokzijl found an equaliser from a set-piece to leave Ajax stunned – in the 99th minute.
Henderson, who was part of Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad earlier this year, has played 90 minutes in three of the last four games, apart from Sparta Rotterdam, where he was suspended.
The title is in PSV’s hands, who are a point ahead and have a significantly better goal difference.
Henderson’s side had led 1-0 and 2-1 but saw their lead vanish in the 99th minute at Groningen
Henderson is Ajax’s captain but was at the centre of speculation over a move away in January
In the standings, Ajax have 75 points and PSV 76. Henderson’s men had been nine points clear with five games remaining.
Henderson, now 34, joined Ajax at the start of 2024 from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq following his controversial move from Liverpool. He is his side’s skipper.
It has been a turbulent season off the field for Henderson, who reportedly wanted to move to Monaco in January.
Reports claimed the ex-Liverpool captain had even refused to play for the Dutch giants to force his exit and he was on the verge of the switch before Ajax blocked it.
Henderson was then involved in an extraordinary exchange with a Dutch journalist, accusing him of making ‘untrue’ claims about his potential move to the Ligue 1 outfit.
Henderson was asked: ‘Can you say, Jordan, why you wanted to make a transfer to Monaco?’
After staring back at the journalist, an aggravated Henderson replied: ‘Based on what, again?’
Henderson and the reporter then went back and forth for almost two minutes, during which the England star said that claims he had told the coach he wanted to leave because Monaco had made him a ‘big offer’ were ‘not true.’
Towards the end of the press conference, Henderson delivered a defiant speech.
He said: ‘There are people sitting in this room who questioned my professionalism, it’s bang out of order. My family had to read nonsense from you.’
