0425.html

Ajax qualifies for next season's Champions League

25 April: Without having played, Ajax secured a slot in next season's Champions League. Arch-rival Feyenoord's suffered its 8th defeat of the season tonight: 1-0 at De Graafschap. The gap between league-leader Ajax and Feyenoord, in the number-three position, thereby increased to seven points, with only two games to go.

This means that Ajax will finish at least second in this season's Eredivisie - good enough for direct Champions League qualification. PSV is Ajax' only remaining competitor in the race for the Dutch championship of 2002.

Striker Ruslan Valeev scored De Graafschap's winner in today's game against Feyenoord in Doetinchem (66'). The Rotterdammers' superstar of the season, central forward Pierre van Hooijdonk, was sent off with a red card, for hitting his opponent with his elbow.

The numbers one and two of the Dutch Eredivisie qualify for the Champions League directly. The number three of the table gets to play Champions League qualifiers. The last time Ajax played in the lucrative UEFA league, was in the 1998-1999 season, after having won 'the double' of 1998. (MP)