WEEK 5 – Sunday 1st September 2013

After week five, PEC Zwolle still sit top even though they dropped their first points of the season as Ajax were also head by Groningen. Feyenoord seem to finally finding their stride as they romped to a 4-0 home win over Roda JC.

FC GRONINGEN 1-1 AJAX

The defending champions drew first blood halfway through the first half, when Danish midfielder Lasse Schöne fired a rocket of a shot into the bottom corner from outside the area.

The hosts looked for an equaliser and defender Eric Botteghin had a great chance to score. Ajax ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer saved his defence with a great stop from the rising Brazilian’s defenders header from the back post.

After the break, the visitors should have made it two but Bojan, largely disappointing since arriving on loan from Barcelona, went on a jinking run past two defenders. However, instead of playing the ball to an unmarked Schöne, the Spaniard lost the ball after trying to trick his way through on goal.

It was end to end stuff, and Groningen won a corner, and when Botteghin once again saw his header saved by Vermeer, stocky striker Genero Zeefuik was in the right place at the right time to level the score.

After Bojan fluffed another opportunity, Groningen could have won the game themselves in the final minute, but Ajax were saved by the post. Sixteen-year-old Richairo Zivkovic headed on to a free Filip Kostić, but the Serbian’s shot cannoned back off the post.

Frank de Boer will be disappointed with the point as his side are yet to tatse a win away from home this season. This will only get tougher after losing Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld this weekend.

It is a case of reserved fortunes for Groningen, as they bounce back from second-rate performances against Eredivisie new boys Go Ahead Eagles and Cambuur.

AZ ALKMAAR 1-1 VITESSE

AZ and Vitesse struggled to entertain in the first period of the match, neither side unable to break the deadlock or trouble either goalkeeper.

Just before half-time, AZ created a chance and took it. Swedish right-back Mattias Johansson powered his way up the pitch down the right, cut inside, encroached into the area and fire a superb effort past Piet Velthuizen.

Vitesse pressed and AZ soaked up the pressure looking to attack on the counter. It backfired though as late in the game, Jonathan Reis salvaged a point for Vitesse.

With just five minutes remaining, Frank van der Struijk swung in a cross from the byline and Reis nodded home at the front post.

PEC ZWOLLE 1-1 FC UTRECHT

PEC Zwolle are still top of the pile in the Eredivisie but lost their 100% record as they dropped their first points in a 1-1 draw at home against FC Utrecht.

Jan Wouters side took the lead five minutes after the break with new signing Willem Janssen nodded home his first goal for his new club. A recent loan signing from FC Twente, headed home a Jens Toornstra free-kick.

Zwolle equalized in the 74th minute through Stef Nijland. Nijland, a free-transfer from PSV in the summer, finished off a nice move down the left from Jesper Drost to keep Zwolle undefeated in five games.

FEYENOORD 4-0 RODA JC

Ronald Koeman will be a happier man tonight, after losing their first three games of the season, his Feyenoord side has now won their two matches including 4-0 demolition of Roda JC today.

A 31st minute Ruud Vormer’s spot-kick fired the home side into the lead. Meanwhile, Italian hitman Graziano Pelle continued his strong start by notching his sixth goal in five games just before the break. It was a cracker, a half-volley from the edge of the box after the Roda defence could not clear a free-kick.

Nelom Miquel made it three on 68 minutes, and it got worse for the visitors as they were reduced to ten men on 80 minutes. Henk Dijkhuizen was shown a straight red card for a needless tackle from behind on Ruben Schaken on the half-way line.

John Goossens put the icing on the cake a few minutes later with his first goal of the season, a low drive from outside the area, as Feyenoord move towards the top half of the table.