WEEK SIX – 18TH-20TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Feyenoord held to a draw, PSV suffer a European hangover as Ajax get back to winning ways against Excelsior writes Will Burns.

After the heroics in Europe last week, PSV fell to a 2-1 away defeat to high-flying Heracles in Almelo on Saturday evening. The hosts coach John Stegeman stated he was ‘a proud coach’ after his watched his side come back from a goal down to move top of the Eredivisie table come Saturday night.

The reigning champions gained the lead inside two minutes. Maxime Lestienne, who provided two assists in the midweek victory over Manchester United, provided another assist for Luuk de Jong. However, before half-time Heracles turned the game on its head leading 2-1 at the break. The equaliser came on 39 minutes, from a wonderful dipping strike by Mark-Jan Fledderus. The midfielder hit it just outside the area that gave Jeroen Zoet no chance of stopping. On the stroke of half-time, Thomas Bruns curled home Heracles’ second with a first-time shot from around 30 yards out.

The majority of the 12,034 inside the Polman Stadion erupted in euphoria on the full-time whistle as Heracles have now won five on the trot to make an incredible start to the season, when many had the Almelo side down as relegation contenders.

Ajax stay top of the pile after a two goal victory away to Excelsior. Frank de Boer’s men took the lead after Anwar El Ghazi scored the opening goal with a great dribble then finish just after the half hour mark. Before the half-time break, Arek Milik doubled Ajax’s score with a shot from outside the box that was too strong for goalkeeper Filip Kurto to stop. The Rotterdam side failed to trouble Jasper Cillessen in goal and Ajax controlled for the win.

In the early Sunday match, Feyenoord shared the points with Roda JC in Kerkrade in a 1-1 draw. Roda were dangerous on the counter attack, although it was the Rotterdammers that took the lead after twenty minutes of play. The 6ft 4inch Michiel Kramer notched his second goal of the campaign, nodding home a Rick Karsdorp cross. The lead did not last long as Hicham Faik took advantage of some poor placement by Kenneth Vermeer to float an easy free-kick into the net to tie the game up. The second half did not bring anymore goals.

Ron Jans’ PEC Zwolle also came from behind to maintain their undefeated start to the new campaign with a 2-1 win over ADO Den Haag. Japanese international striker Mike Havanaar put Henk Fraser’s men ahead on 35 minutes and held the lead until twenty minutes to go when Sheraldo Becker levelled the game up with a wonderful chipped effort from right-wing.

Becker then provided the ball for powerhouse striker Lars Veldwijk to surge through the Den Haag defence to score the winner. The big forward, on loan from Nottingham Forest, has now scored six goals this season after an unsuccessful campaign last year in England.

Willem II claimed a 3-1 victory at home to FC Utrecht. Erik Falkenburg nodded home a Lucas Andersen cross to open the scoring on 26 minutes and things got worse for the visitors when Sébastien Haller received a red card for kicking out at Sander van der Streek. Erik ten Hag’s team talk inspired Utrecht to level the game up within three minutes of the restart with a Nacer Barazite goal.

However, the game was not level for long, as five minutes later Utrecht left-back Louis Nganioni deflected Van der Streek’s cross into his own net. Man of the match, Lucas Andersen and Robbie Haemhouts combined to wrap up the game with twenty to go to give Willem II their first win of the season.

FC Twente are still without a permanent head coach and a win after a goal-less draw at SC Cambuur.

In Friday night’s game, N.E.C. Nijmegen claimed a 2-0 win over the struggling sc Heerenveen. Venezuelan international Christian Santos scored both goals as Dwight Lodeweges’ in feeling the pressure at Heerenveen, who have now gone five games without a win since their opening day victory over De Graafschap.

In Sunday’s final two games, Vitesse defeated De Graafschap 3-0 while FC Groningen beat AZ Alkmaar by 2-0.

The Arnhem side made short work of the Eredivisie newcomers as they lead 2-0 after just over twenty minutes of play. Georgian pair Guram Kashia and Valeri Qazaishvili notched the first two goals before 19-year-old Albanian striker Milot Rashica grabbed his first goal for the club on 73 minutes to finish the scoring.

Edwin van der Looi’s Groningen climbed into the top ten with the win over John van der Brom’s AZ. Summer signing Bryan Linssen and young substitute Mimoun Mahi grabbed the goals.

RESULTS

Friday 18th September

N.E.C. Nijmegen 2-0 sc Heerenveen

Saturday 19th September

SC Cambuur 0-0 FC Twente

Heracles 2-1 PSV

PEC Zwolle 2-1 ADO Den Haag

Willem II 3-1 FC Utrecht

Sunday 20th September

Roda JC 1-1 Feyenoord

Excelsior 0-2 Ajax

Vitesse 3-0 De Graafschap

FC Groningen 2-0 AZ Alkmaar

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