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November 23rd , 2024

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YOUNGSTER XAVI SIMONS EARNS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION AND GOLDEN BOOT WITH LAST MINUTE WONDER

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Sports

A year ago



PSV youngster Xavi Simons helped his side qualify for next season's Champions League and earned himself the Eredivisie Golden Boot with a superb goal in injury time.



It has been a pretty good season for PSV as Ruud van Nistelrooy led his side to two trophies in his first campaign as the first team manager.


With just days to go until the final game of the season, the former striker has quit as the team hopes to secure second place.


It was a blow for the team as they prepared to face fourth-placed AZ Alkmaar and knew that a positive result would guarantee them a Champions League spot.


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Van Nistelrooy was unhappy with the sale of Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke earlier in the season, but he thanked the team for leaving. However, the loss of those two strikers has left Thorgan Hazard, 20-year-old Fabio Silva and Simons their main attacking threats.


The former Barcelona and PSG player moved to the Netherlands at the start of the season and he proved all year that he was right by leaving France.


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On Sunday, Simons opened the scoring to equalize as top scorer of the Eredivisie, but Jesper Karlsson equalized for Alkmaar in the 84th minute from a penalty.



As the game entered stoppage time, PSV sent Anwar El Ghazi off the field, further reducing their chances of taking second place.


That's when Simons stepped up the line, past three defenders, circled the goalkeeper and put the ball in the net past another defender in the 98th minute to seal the victory for both individuals and teammates. Xavi Simons won the Dutch Golden Shoe and UCL qualifier with this solo goal in the last second of the match pic.twitter.com/r9EJNdyWKa


– Chuck Bass (@LeeFussballV2) May 28, 2023

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"Wow last minute too... away from home and you left and you did it. No one could talk to him for a year," said one fan.


"I will tell my kids about this rookie season," said a second.


When asked what his two previous clubs had done, a third added: "How come Barcelona and PSG let him go, he looks set to become a future superstar ."


"Well, that's him," exclaimed the fourth. Advertisement


At the time of scoring, another fan replied: "Doing that in the 97th minute of a game is CRAZY to say the least."


"Ridiculous talent," another commented.


And many fans have called on their teams to make some moves for the midfielder, who has a buy-out clause at PSG.


As it happened, Simons didn't need to score to secure PSV's place among Europe's top leagues as Ajax ended their poor campaign with a defeat to FC Twente, although he did finished with 19 goals and 8 assists in the league.  

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