Eredivisie

This week it was the turn of the chasers to slip up as wins for both PSV and Twente helped them pull away from the chasing pack, but keeps them level on points at the top of the Eredivisie with Eindhoven's superior goal difference being the only thing separating the two sides.

PSV's performances since the winter break have been less than impressive, but after crushing AZ 4-0 this past weekend on their visit to Alkmaar it looks like the league leaders might be back in their stride. Marcus Berg opened the scoring after just eight minutes, and it was an evenly matched affair until Dzsudzsak doubled his side's lead with a stunning strike on the half hour mark making it 2-0 and spurring PSV on while AZ heads went down. Dzsudzsak added his second and PSV's third in the 66th minute with Berg bagging a brace and rounding off the scoring after 77 minutes making it 4-0.

FC Twente only managed the one goal in their win over Vitesse, but it was all they needed to keep up the pressure on PSV and to open up the gap between themselves and Ajax. Preud'homme's men dominated from the off, but the only chance that found the back of the net came 39 minutes in as Nacer Chadli's left-footed effort made it 1-0 which proved enough to earn all three points.

Feyenoord took a big step towards Eredivisie safety as they beat visiting Heracles 2-1 in front of a Du Kuip Stadion packed with 47,000 fans. The home side took the lead in the 18th minute as Ryo Miyaichi, on loan from Arsenal, volleyed home to make it 1-0. Diego Biseswar, who provided the assist for the opener, then made it two when his fine strike found the top corner. Mark Jan Fleddurus pulled a goal back for Heracles just before the break, but despite both sides having good chances in the second half the scoreline remained 2-1 and Feyenoord bagged a valuable three points.

Willem II Tilburg once again showed their intent to stay up despite being rock bottom of the Eredivisie table with another thriller at the Willem II Stadion, a 3-3 draw with FC Utrecht. The visitors went ahead through Dries Mertens after 23 minutes, only to be pegged back two minutes later by Jan-Arie Van Der Heijden with what would be the first of three equalisers.

Juha Hakola then fired Willem into the lead just after half an hour ensuring his side went in 2-1 up at half time. However the drama ensued ten minutes after the restart when Mertens grabbed his and Utrecht's second. It looked set to stay at 2-2 until a minute from time when substitute Maceo Rigters seemed to have scored the winner for Willem, but Mertens turned provider for Ismo Vostermans to head home and make it 3-3 right at the death.

ADO Den Haag continued their impressive run of form with a 3-0 win over struggling VVV Venlo to keep them in touching distance of the top four. They had to wait until the second half for the first goal of the game when Jens Toornstra's strike made it 1-0. Dmitry Bulykin's penalty doubled their advantage and his second of the game, and 15th of the campaign, made it 3-0 late on and secured the win for Den Haag.

Ajax needed a win to keep the pressure on the top two when they went to Roda on Sunday, but could only muster a 2-2 draw after squandering a 2-0 lead and then missing a game-winning penalty in the closing stages of the game. Goals from Miralem Sulejmani and Siem De Jong gave Ajax their lead, with Mads Junker halving the deficit just before half time.

Roda's momentum from Junker's goal carried into the second period and they were unlucky not to have already been ahead by the time Anouar Hadouir levelled things up with 82 minutes gone. Ajax had a golden opportunity to snatch all three point when they were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute, but El Hamdaoui saw his penalty well-saved by Roda keeper Przemyslaw Tyton.

Groningen also needed an away win after wins for PSV and Twente on Saturday, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against mid-table Graafschap. Danny Holla put the away side a goal to the good in the 32nd minute despite Graafschap having the better of the early exchanges. And the hosts grabbed a deserved equaliser when Rydell Poepon found the back of the net, making it 1-1 which is how it ended.

Heerenveen are now just 2 points outside the Europa League play-off places after beating NAC Breda 2-0. Robbert Schilder was made to pay for his penalty miss in the 47th minute which could have given Breda the lead. A goal on the hour from Luciano Narsingh, and then a second from Oussama Assaidi eight minutes from time earned Heerenveen the win.

Finally, NEC Nijmegen are unbeaten in seven and up to 10th after a 2-0 win against SC Excelsior who are now three points from safety. Excelsior started the stronger of the two sides, but this was short lived as NEC took hold of the game and a brace from Niki Zimling in the second half sealed the win for the Nijmegen side.


Work by Josh Coulson