Soccer: PSV hunt the double now title looks safe

PSV Eindhoven retained their Dutch title when they beat Heerenveen 3-0 to put them beyond the reach of nearest rivals Feyenoord.

Arnold Bruggink, Mark van Bommel and Mateja Kezman, with his 23rd of the season, secured PSV's 16th league title.

The club are still hunting a league and cup double as they face Twente Enschede in the Dutch cup final on May 24.

With three games remaining PSV have 74 points, 15 points clear of Feyenoord (59), who lost 2-3 at home to Fortuna Sittard.

Roda JC Kerkrade missed a chance to close significantly on Feyenoord when they drew 1-1 at Vitesse Arnhem.

They have 56 points.

Across the Channel, a late goal by Dougie Freedman gave Crystal Palace a 1-0 victory at Stockport that kept the London club in the English first division and condemned Huddersfield to relegation after their 1-2 home defeat by Birmingham.

Palace, who have not been outside the top two divisions since 1977 and were in the premier league three years ago, looked doomed until Freedman broke clear three minutes from time and slotted in the vital goal, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling fans.

Huddersfield suffered at the hands of Curtis Woodhouse, who scored after 21 and 45 minutes to ensure Birmingham finished fifth.

Andy Booth briefly put Huddersfield level before halftime, but despite a furious late assault Lou Macari's side could not manage a second equaliser.

Birmingham will face fourth-placed Preston North End, 2-1 winners over West Bromwich Albion, in the playoffs, while third-placed Bolton, who drew 1-1 at home with Sheffield United, take on West Brom, who finished sixth.

Fulham and Blackburn, who drew 1-1 at Gillingham, filled the two automatic promotion places.

Portsmouth, who started the day in the relegation zone, ensured their safety with an impressive 3-0 home win over Barnsley, while Grimsby did the same thanks to a 1-0 home victory over Fulham.

North of the border, cancer victim Alan Stubbs capped an emotional return to Scottish soccer as he scored in Celtic's 5-2 away win over Hibernian.

The defender, who has missed most of the season to undergo chemotherapy, came on as a substitute and netted a 68th-minute header as Celtic dominated the dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup final on May 26.

Celtic's other goals came from Jackie McNamara, who scored twice, Lubomir Moravcik and Henrik Larsson, with his 51st of the season.

Celtic now have 97 points from 36 games and, with two games left, can pass the 100-point mark.

Hibernian, who have already qualified for the Uefa Cup, remain in third place with 65 points.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill said of Stubbs' comeback: "That goal was a moment he will cherish for the rest of his life.

"No one can ever imagine what he has gone through this season.

"He wanted to make an appearance before the end of the season so he could get his ninth appearance and qualify for a medal, but he did not want a sympathy vote and he's now proved he has earned that medal."

At the bottom, Dundee United eased their relegation fears by winning 1-0 at home to Dunfermline.

Steven Thompson's 21st-minute header proved decisive and gives Dundee United a three-point cushion over bottom club St Mirren with two games to go.

In Italy, Japanese substitute Hidetoshi Nakata inspired Serie A leaders AS Roma to a late comeback that gave them a 2-2 draw at Juventus in a top-of-the-table clash.

Roma now lead second-placed Lazio by five points, while Juventus slipped to third, a further point adrift, with five matches remaining.

Lazio beat Bari 2-0, thanks to two goals from Juan Veron.

Juventus were poised to close the gap at the top when they led 2-0 with 11 minutes to go following strikes by Alessandro Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane.

But Nakata, who replaced Francesco Totti on the hour, turned the game in the final stages and his contribution may prove to be crucial in deciding the destiny of the title.

Eleven minutes from the end he fired home a spectacular 30m drive and then, in the last minute, Juventus goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar could only parry another fierce shot from the Japanese midfielder and Vincenzo Montella pounced for the equaliser.

In Spain, Rayo Vallecano did neighbours Real Madrid a big favour in holding second-placed Deportivo Coruna to a 1-1 draw at the Teresa Rivero Stadium.

Rayo went ahead with a first-time strike from Jon Perez Bolo on 61 minutes and, though Deportivo levelled through Juan Carlos Valeron, they were unable to pull off the win they needed to keep alive their faint hopes of retaining the title.

Real, who suffered a comprehensive 0-3 defeat at Celta Vigo, are eight points clear of Deportivo at the top of the table with just five games remaining.

- AGENCIES