Following the international break, the twenty eighth round of Eredivisie action got off to a false start on Saturday evening at the AFAS Stadion where cup finalists, AZ Alkmaar were held goalless by visitors, Groningen.

At the same time, visitors, Excelsior came from behind to pick up a priceless point in their battle to avoid the drop at the expense of hosts, PEC Zwolle at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

Yet it was the home side – buoyed by victory over local rivals, Go Ahead Eagles last time out, who seemed on course for a second win on the bounce when Ajax loanee, Django Warmerdam beat Feyenoord loanee, Warner Hahn from outside the box to notch his second goal in as many games in the 26^th minute.

However, as the visitors proved last time out by frustrating the title ambitions of high-flying Ajax, Mitchell van der Gaag’s men are determined to retain their Eredivisie status and were back on level terms just eight minutes later – Luigi Bruins slotting the ball past Mickey van der Hart after being slipped in by Mike van Duinen eleven minutes before the break to ultimately edge the tiny Rotterdam-based outfit two points clear of the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

Despite there being no further goals, both sides threatened to edge themselves ahead before the break – Danny Holla rattling Hahn’s left hand upright in the 38^th minute for the hosts before Excelsior’s Stanley Elbers slammed the ball against van der Hart’s crossbar in the 44^th minute.

Elsewhere, reigning back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven temporarily moved into second placed by taking all three points from their trip to another side struggling at the wrong end of the table – Sparta Rotterdam.

With PSV’s title rivals, Ajax and Feyenoord set to lock horns in De Klassieker at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday afternoon, Phillip Cocu’s men knew that all three points were imperative if they harboured any hopes of remaining in the title picture and took the lead in the 21^st minute – Jurgen Locadia beating Roy Kortsmit from just outside the box with a low drive to notch his first goal of an injury-ravaged campaign after the home side failed to adequately clear their lines following a Jetro Willems corner from the left.

With Jerson Cabral having failed to punish Jeroen Zoet after the Dutch international ‘keeper was involved in a mix-up with centre half, Hector Moreno – despite the former Feyenoord man being presented with an open goal, it was instead the visitors who made the home side pay for their profligacy by capitalising on an error in the home defence to double their advantage and ultimately secure all three points –  a Rick van Drongelen mistake allowing Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel to skip around an exposed Kortsmit and roll the ball into an empty net three minutes before the break to move Cocu’s side within five points of league leader’s, Feyenoord.

FC Utrecht moved five points clear in fourth after seeing off fellow European hopefuls, Willem II on Saturday evening.

The hosts were the first out of the blocks at the Stadion Galgenwaard and had Sebastien Haller to thank when the talismanic Frenchman put the home side into the ascendancy with just ten minutes on the clock – Haller latching onto a pin-point cross from the left by Kevin Conboy to beat Kostas Lamprou in the visiting goal and notch his fortieth goal in Utrecht colours – a strike which equalled Stefaan Tanghe’s record as the club’s top foreign goal scorer.

Having wasted a number of chances to make the points safe, Erik ten Hag’s side eventually sealed the victory in the third minute of added time at the end of the game when Ajax loanee, Richairo Zivkovic found himself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball in from close range after Nacer Barazite had seen his curling effort cannon off both of Lamprou’s uprights.

At the same time, hosts Heracles came from behind to see off visitors, Heerenveen in emphatic fashion in Almelo – the hosts hitting Jurgen Streppel’s side for four at the Polman Stadion.

The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start as, with just five minutes on the clock, Iranian international Reza Ghoochannejhad handed the away side the lead from the penalty spot – Mike te Wierik having brought down Pelle van Amersfoort in the box leaving referee, Martin van den Kerkhof  with little choice but to award Streppel’s out-of-form side a spot-kick.

Yet, despite being handed an early lead, instead of three much-needed points in their quest to secure a UEFA Europa League playoff place, Ghoochannejhad’s strike instead proved to be the one bright spot in an otherwise wretched evening for Streppel’s side who were pegged back just four minutes later when 22-year-old, Reuven Niemeijer slid home a Brandley Kuwas cross from the right at the back post to mark his first league start for the hosts with a first Eredivisie goal in the ninth minute.

Heracles’ top scorer, Samuel Armenteros put the hosts into the ascendancy with a well-placed free kick eleven minutes later before Kuwas repeated the free-scoring Swede’s feat by slamming home a set piece of his own with 26 minutes gone.

Things were starting to unravel for the visitors who then had Jerry St. Juste dismissed just after the half hour mark following a reckless challenge on Robin Gosens which earned the 20-year-old a second yellow card from referee, van den Kerkhof in the 31^st minute.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as any thoughts Streppel’s troops may have harboured of a comeback were dispelled when Kristoffer Peterson made it four for John Stegeman’s men just short of the interval – the Swede heading home a Kuwas corner from the right, to leave the hosts just three points off their visitors and keep alive their dream of snatching a UEFA Europa League playoff place.

On the other hand, having suffered a third straight defeat and with just two wins since the winter break, Heerenveen’s once promising season appears to have completely come off the rails.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the GelreDome where cup finalists, Vitesse Arnhem took the bragging rights by seeing off NEC Nijmegen in the Gelderse derby thanks to a double from Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Following a goalless opening period, van Wolfswinkel was on hand to head home a Lewis Baker free kick from the edge of the box five minutes into the second half before NEC substitute, Ferdi Kadioglu clawed Peter Hyballa’s strugglers back on level terms – curling the ball into the top left hand corner of Eloy Room’s net in the 66^th minute – just seven minutes after replacing Gregor Breinburg.

Having posted just three wins since the turn of the year, Hyballa’s troops have struggled to put points on the board following a promising first half of the campaign and now find themselves just three points above the bottom three and the away side failed to take anything from their trip to Arnhem after referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk awarded the hosts a penalty six minutes from time when Michael Heinloth handled the ball in the area leaving van Wolfswinkel to ensure local bragging rights would belong to Henk Fraser’s side – beating visiting ‘keeper, Joris Delle from the spot to notch his sixteenth strike of a prolific first season back in the Netherlands for the 28-year-old Dutch international.

Elsewhere, in what was billed as a real relegation six-pointer, ADO Den Haag edged closer to safety by hitting fellow strugglers, Roda JC for four at the Kyocera Stadion on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts caught their visitors cold with just forty six seconds on the clock – Sheraldo Becker firing the home side into the ascendancy after being slipped in down the right by an incisive ball from Dion Malone.

The home side then doubled their advantage from the spot just before the half hour mark – Abdenasser El Khayati sweeping home the penalty after Christian Kum was adjudged to have handled the ball in the visitor’s area by referee, Dennis Higler.

Any hopes Yannis Anastasiou’s side may have harboured of making a comeback were dispelled on the hour mark when Japanese international, Mike Havenaar added a third with a close range tap in after visiting ‘keeper, Benjamin van Leer failed to hold on to Malone’s initial effort from just outside the area.

Things went from bad to worse for the Kerkrade-based outfit who saw Guyon Fernandez head home the host’s fourth from a Randy Wolters cross from the left for Alfons Groenendijk’s side in the 87^th minute before Mohamed El Makrini netted a consolation for the well-beaten visitors with a low drive from the edge of the area a minute from time.

There was little doubt as to the game of the weekend as second placed, Ajax played host to league leaders, Feyenoord in De Klassieker at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday afternoon.

Having dropped what could ultimately prove to be two crucial points away at Excelsior a week earlier and having also seen PSV edge ahead of them following the reigning back-to-back champions’ victory over Sparta on Saturday evening, Peter Bosz’s side knew that, if they were to have any hope of bridging the six point gap between the two sides, that nothing less than victory over their bitter rivals would suffice and the home side got off to the best possible start as Lasse Schone lashed a stunning 30-yard free kick in off the underside of visiting ‘keeper, Brad Jones’ crossbar with just fifty four seconds on the clock.

Things went from bad to worse for the away side as Giovanni van Bronckhorst saw his top scorer – Nicolai Jorgensen forced off through injury in the eleventh minute and, unable to get a foot-hold in the match, the away side’s frustrations boiled over on the half hour when Steven Berghuis petulantly fired an errant ball back into the crowd while waiting to take a corner kick from the left – resulting in the Watford loanee being hit on the back of the head by one of a number of projectiles that subsequently rained down on the playing surface.

With the away side seemingly teetering on the brink of the sort of capitulation that had, until recently, become their hallmark in big match situations following the turn of the century, the hosts soon doubled their advantage through recent big-money signing – Brazilian, David Neres, who marked his first league start by getting on the end of a perfectly placed ball from Hakim Ziyech in the 36^th minute.

Despite Jorgensen’s replacement – Michiel Kramer eventually finding a response for the visitors, his strike from just outside the area in the first minute of added time at the end of the match ultimately proved too-little-too-late for the league leaders to salvage anything from yet another disappointing trip to the Amsterdam ArenA.

Meanwhile, the victory saw Ajax reclaim second place from PSV while the Amsterdam giants also cut their bitter rival’s lead at the top of the standings to just three points with six games left to play.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Enschede, where new coach, Robert Maaskant marked his return to Go Ahead Eagles by masterminding victory over local rivals, FC Twente.

Having opted to dismiss coach, Hans de Koning following the disappointing home defeat to PEC Zwolle in the IJseelderby last time out, the appointment of Maaskant – who began his playing career at the club in 1989 before returning for a short spell as coach in 2003, had divided opinion on the terraces and despite an encouraging opening period, the sizeable travelling band of away fans felt that familiar sinking feeling once more on the stroke of half time when Manchester City loanee, Enes Unal found himself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball into an empty net to notch goal number fourteen of a fruitful season in the Dutch top flight for the 19-year-old marksman after Frederik Jensen – having wrong-footed Sander Duits, had been allowed to surge deep into the visitor’s area.

However, eight minutes into the second half the away side were back on level terms – Sam Hendriks turning home a low Marcel Ritzmaier cross from the left from the edge of the box.

The away side could have taken the lead on the hour only for Jarchinio Antonia to see his rasping right-footed effort from well outside the box cannon back off Nick Marsman’s crossbar.

However, the visitors didn’t have to wait long before the provider of Hendriks’ equaliser then turned goal-scorer – PSV loanee, Ritzmaier’s long range free kick catching out Twente’s former Eagle – Marsman in the home side’s net to ultimately bag three crucial points for the away side and get Maaskant’s third spell in Deventer off to a perfect start despite Chinedu Ede seeing a late goal controversially disallowed by referee, Ed Janssen who adjudged the substitute to have been in an offside position despite replays suggesting the German was level with the last man having been played in by fellow replacement, Jos Hooiveld eight minutes from time.

Despite newly appointed Eagles coach, Maaskant lifting his new side off the foot of the table at the expense of fellow strugglers, Roda JC, things don’t get any easier for the 48-year-old whose charges now face a tricky trip to De Kuip on Wednesday evening.

Results: Week 28

AZ Alkmaar 0-0 FC Groningen

PEC Zwolle 1-1 Excelsior

Sparta Rotterdam 0-2 PSV Eindhoven

FC Utrecht 2-0 Willem II

Heracles 4-1 SC Heerenveen

Vitesse Arnhem 2-1 NEC Nijmegen

AFC Ajax 2-1 Feyenoord

ADO Den Haag 4-1 Roda JC

FC Twente 1-2 Go Ahead Eagles

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The twenty seventh round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion where hosts Roda JC missed the opportunity to move out of the bottom three after being hit for three by visitors, FC Twente.

Having picked up three much needed points last time out against Groningen after two successive defeats had previously plunged Yannis Anastasiou’s side deep into the relegation mire, the hosts – who were looking to record their first back-to-back victories of what has been a tough campaign thus far, found themselves – despite having made a bright start to proceedings, a goal down on the half hour mark – Fredrik Jensen latching on to a perfectly weighted through ball by Mateusz Klich before shrugging off the attentions of Frederic Ananou and calmly slotting the ball under home ‘keeper Benjamin van Leer to put the visitors into the ascendancy.

Despite being unable to take part in the end-of-season UEFA Europa League playoffs due to the sanctions imposed in the wake of the club’s emergence from financial oblivion last summer, Rene Hake’s men have never let their attitude or professionalism come into question this season and the away side were on course for a fourth away success of the campaign when Jensen doubled the visitor’s advantage two minutes before the break – Chinedu Ede finding the 19-year-old midfielder who – having been afforded a remarkable amount of time and space in the host’s area, slipped the ball past an exposed van Leer.

FC Twente have recently been locked in negotiations with Manchester City to extend free-scoring Turkish international, Enes Unal’s stay in Enschede and the 19-year-old was on hand to dispel any hopes the struggling hosts may have harboured of making a comeback thirteen minutes from time – slotting the ball through the legs of van Leer after running onto a perfectly judged slide-rule pass from fellow Manchester City loanee, Yaw Yeboah to notch his thirteenth of the season and, in the process, seal all three points for Hake’s side who, as a result, moved up to fifth ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action began at the Noordlease Stadion where, despite dominating proceedings hosts, Groningen had to be content with sharing the spoils with a stubborn Willem II.

After dominating the opening period the hosts – whose last victory came in mid-January, hit the front four minutes after the restart when Ruben Jenssen found himself in the right place at the right time to beat the host’s in-form ‘keeper, Kostas Lamprou from just inside the box after seeing Simon Tibbling’s initial effort deflect his way.

Having won two of their last three on the road ahead of making the trip north, Ewin van de Looi’s men looked to be at it again when Obbi Oulare headed home Jordy Croux’s pinpoint cross from the left with 54 minutes gone – the Watford loanee’s strike ultimately securing an undeserved point for van de Looi’s current side at the expense of his former employers to keep the Tilburg-based outfit’s unlikely quest for a UEFA Europa League playoff place on track.

Elsewhere, PSV Eindhoven kept up the pressure on Ajax and Feyenoord by squeezing past visitors, Vitesse Arnhem.

Despite enjoying the majority of the chances in a scoreless first period, Phillip Cocu’s men had to wait until five minute into the second half to break the deadlock – Newcastle United loanee, Siem de Jong notching his fourth goal in his last three outings for the reigning back-to-back champions by rifling the ball into the top corner of Eloy Room’s net from just inside the area after his late run had been found by the vision of Mexican international, Andres Guardado following a well-worked corner routine.

While de Jong’s strike was ultimately enough to see off the cup finalists and pull the hosts within a point of second placed Ajax, Cocu’s side could have doubled their advantage fourteen minutes from time but substitute, Jurgen Locadia saw his rasping effort cannon back off Room’s right hand upright before the visiting ‘keeper did well to rebuff Marco van Ginkel – denying the Chelsea loanee from close range before clawing the loose ball off the line five minutes from time.

FC Utrecht heaped more misery on hosts, NEC Nijmegen – who continued to tread water at the wrong end of the table after being hit for three in front of their own fans on Saturday evening.

With just one win in their last seven outings, Peter Hyballa’s men looked devoid of both confidence and inspiration in the early stages at the Goffertstadion and it came as little surprise when Zakaria Labyad’s deflected shot handed the visitors the lead on the half hour mark who then doubled their advantage when Erik ten Hag’s men hit their hosts with a swift counter attack that was finished off by Yassin Ayoub eight minutes before the break.

The away side made sure of all three points just after the hour mark – talismanic Frenchman, Sebastien Haller slotting past home ‘keeper, Joris Delle after being slipped in by Sofyan Amrabat.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at Het Kasteel, where struggling, Sparta Rotterdam put last week’s five-goal hammering in Arnhem behind them by seeing off visitors, Heracles to move five points clear of the bottom three ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

Alex Pastoor’s men hit the front just short of the half hour mark when an effort from star man, Ryan Sanusi took a wicked deflection off Heracles centre half, Justin Hoogma to take the ball beyond the reach of Bram Castro in the visiting goal.

Yet, the host’s advantage looked to be short-lived when the away side were awarded a penalty ten minutes before the break – referee, Bas Nijhuis pointing to the spot after Tom Breukers was brought down by Loris Brogno in the host’s area. However, the resultant spot-kick from away side’s usually lethal Swedish marksman – Samuel Armenteros was easily fielded by Ryan Kortsmit.

The hosts made their visitors pay for their profligacy eight minutes after the restart – Martin Pusic netting his first goal in a Sparta shirt following his January loan move from FC Midtjylland –the Austrian heading home at the back post following a Jerson Cabral free kick from the right before the much-travelled 29-year-old then made sure of all three points for Pastoor’s side by bagging a second of the game seventeen minutes from time – heading a Brogno cross from the left past Castro from close range.

While John Stegeman’s side did manage to get themselves on the scoresheet, Joel Pelupessy’s cracker ultimately counted for nothing.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Abe Lenstra Stadion where top-of-the-table, Feyenoord took a step closer to securing their first league title since 1999 by coming from behind to eventually edge out their hosts, Heerenveen.

Despite having won just twice since the winter break, Jurgen Streppel’s side hit the front from the penalty spot eighteen minutes in – Reza Ghoochannejhad getting up to convert the resultant spot-kick after referee, Dennis Higler had ruled that the Iranian international had been brought down in the area by Miquel Nelom.

However, in spite of having gone in at the break a goal-to-the-good, the hosts failed to turn their half time lead into points and found themselves back on level terms just eleven minutes after the restart – Nicolai Jorgensen finding himself in the right place at the right time to bag his twenty third goal of a prolific debut season with the Rotterdam giants after Lucas Bijker could only deflect a Karim El Ahmadi cross that was initially intended for Jens Toornstra right into the path of Feyenoord’s Danish marksman.

Not content with taking just a point back to Rotterdam with the season’s second instalment of De Klassieker to come after the international break, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men helped themselves to all three to move seven points clear of Ajax ahead of their bitter rivals’ encounter with Excelsior later on Sunday afternoon – Tonny Vilhena smashing the ball hard and low past former team-mate, Erwin Mulder in the Heerenveen goal after being teed up by Watford loanee, Steven Berghuis twenty minutes from time.

Elsewhere, PEC Zwolle came away from their trip to De Adelaarshorst with all three points and local bragging rights after completing the double over their local rivals, Go Ahead Eagles in the IJsselderby.

With three local derbies and a trip to De Kuip to come in their next four outings ahead of the visit of Ron Jans’ side, Hans de Koning’s men knew that this was a game that the Eredivisie cellar-dwellers simply had to take all three points from if they were to stand any chance of escaping the dreaded bottom three before the end of the campaign.

With this in mind, the hosts made the perfect start – Liverpool loanee, Pedro Chirivella bagging his second since arriving in Deventer during the January transfer window – sliding home a perfectly placed outside of the right boot cross from another of the home side’s loan stars – Brighton‘s Elvis Manu, past former Eagle – Mickey van der Hart, with just three minutes gone.

However, the home side’s advantage wasn’t to last and, just two minutes later, the away side were back on level terms through Ajax loanee, Queensy Menig – the 21-year-old nicking a flick-on from Birmingham City loanee, Nicolai Brock-Madsen away from the advancing Theo Zwarthoed before rounding the host’s stranded ‘keeper and rolling the ball into an empty net to make it all square with five minutes on the clock.

With the difficulty of their run-in towards the end of the campaign foremost in their mind, taking just a point from a fixture they had earmarked to win was clearly not an option for de Koning’s men who went in search of all three following the break but, having thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at their visitors, the hosts were instead caught short at the back – Django Warmerdam – another Ajax loanee, lashing a low drive past Zwarthoed eight minutes from time after the 21-year-old had been found in acres of space on the left by a pinpoint cross-field ball from Mustafa Saymak.

Having already taken the spoils in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, Ron Jans’ men were able to celebrate a convincing double over their local rivals when Bram van Polen converted from the spot two minutes from time after referee, Danny Makkelie had ruled that Arsenal loanee, Daniel Crowley had unlawfully blocked the late run of Ryan Thomas following a Warmerdam corner from the right.

Three days after this latest setback, with the Eagles rooted to the foot of the standings having taken just one point from their last five outings and four points adrift of safety with just seven games left to play, the club opted to relieve coach, Hans de Koning of his duties with his assistants – Harry Decheiver and Michel Boerebach, assuming temporary charge of the struggling Deventer-based outfit as the club look to avoid a swift return to the second tier of Dutch football.

With Feyenoord having extended their lead at the top of the standings to seven points following their victory over Heerenveen, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men had local neighbours, Excelsior to thank after Mitchell van der Gaag’s strugglers held title-chasing Ajax at the Stadion Woudestein on Sunday afternoon.

Having been called up to Danny Blind’s Netherlands squad for the upcoming fixtures with Bulgaria and Italy following a string of impressive displays at the heart of the Ajax rear guard, Matthijs de Ligt began this encounter in similarly impressive fashion – the 17-year-old’s perfectly timed tackle denying Mike van Duinen a clear goal-scoring opportunity with just twelve minutes gone.

However, despite his recent good form, a poorly judged pass across the face of his own goal from the talented young defender thirteen minutes later left van Duinen in the clear with time and space aplenty to rifle the ball – via the left knee of Kenny Tete, past the exposed Andre Onana and give van der Gaag’s strugglers an unlikely lead with twenty five minutes on the clock.

Despite the host’s advantage lasting just six minutes – Justin Kluivert’s first ever Eredivisie strike levelling proceedings just after the hour mark, a winning goal ultimately proved elusive for Peter Bosz’s troops who consequently slipped six points off the pace following Feyenoord’s win earlier in the day in Heerenveen.

With their title hopes seemingly hanging by a thread, Ajax now find themselves in a must-win situation with bitter rivals, Feyenoord next up for Bosz’s troops at the Amsterdam ArenA following the international break in the second instalment of De Klassieker on 2^nd April – an encounter that will go a long way to deciding who reigns supreme at the top of the standings come the end of the season.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the AFAS Stadion where hosts, AZ Alkmaar hit struggling ADO Den Haag for four to keep their quest for a UEFA Europa League playoff place on track after recording just their third league win since the turn of the year and their first since mid-February.

John van den Brom’s side were out of the blocks quickly – Dabney dos Santos sliding the ball past Robert Zwinkels after being teed up by the head of Iranian international, Alireza Jahanbakhsh with just seven minutes gone before the 20-year-old then doubled the host’s advantage six minutes later with a simple finish from the edge of the box after a perfectly weighted through ball from Jahanbakhsh slipped in Stijn Wuytens whose square pass across the face of goal left dos Santos with the goal at his mercy.

Joris van Overeem made it three nine minutes before the break with a perfectly weighted lob before then turning provider on the hour to put the seal on a dominant performance by the hosts – Fred Friday slamming the 22-year-old’s audacious back heel from the by-line into the roof of Zwinkel’s net from the edge of the box.

Results: Week 27

Roda JC 0-3 FC Twente

Fc Groningen 1-1 Willem II

PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Vitesse Arnhem

NEC Nijmegen 0-3 FC Utrecht

Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 Heracles

SC Heerenveen 1-2 Feyenoord

Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 PEC Zwolle

Excelsior 1-1 AFC Ajax

AZ Alkmaar 4-0 ADO Den Haag

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The twenty fourth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening in The Hague where hosts, ADO Den Haag – despite earning their first point under new coach, Alfons Groenendijk, missed the opportunity to climb off the foot of the table after being held by visitors, FC Twente.

The hosts came into this encounter having lost all six of their league outings since the turn of the year but looked to be on course for a rare three points when Ruben Schaken put the hosts into the ascendancy after only twelve minutes had been played at the Kyocera Stadion – Schaken finding himself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball into an unguarded net after Nick Marsman had earlier denied Guyon Fernandez on the edge of the box – the 30-year-old winter signing having initially been slipped in by an incisive pass from Dion Malone.

However, while the wait for a first point of the Alfons Groenendijk era was brought to an end, the host’s wait for a first victory continued thanks to Manchester City loanee, Enes Unal, who brought Rene Hake’s men back on level terms in the 26^th minute in spectacular fashion – the 19-year-old Turkish international beating ADO ‘keeper, Robert Zwinkels from range to notch his eleventh goal of a prolific campaign and ultimately, consign the home side to the Eredivisie basement for another week.

However, it could have been so different for the hosts who went close to restoring their advantage just two minutes later and could have had a penalty when goal scorer, Schaken, having cut in from the right, teed up Malone whose deflected effort appeared to come off the arm of Hidde ter Avest before cannoning off a grateful Marsman’s left hand upright.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action kicked off with FC Utrecht coming out on top in a five-goal thriller with FC Groningen at the Noordlease Stadion.

Having recorded just one win since the turn of the year, the hosts came into this encounter with no win in their last five outings but found themselves with a two-goal cushion at the break thanks to a first half double from Bryan Linssen – the 26-year-old rising highest to head home a pinpoint Tom Hiariej cross from the right with just four minutes on the clock before doubling the host’s advantage on the stroke of half time – Linssen beating Willem Janssen to a hopeful punt by Jason Davidson before slotting the ball past an exposed David Jensen.

Having been largely outplayed by their hosts who had inflicted a five-goal hammering on their visitors in the reverse fixture in the early weeks of the season when both clubs were in the midst of a string of poor results – the visitors did almost draw level against the run of play when Gyrano Kerk headed a Giovanni Troupee cross from the right off home ‘keeper, Sergio Padt’s right hand upright.

However, having won three of their last four, Erik ten Hag saw his side respond impressively in the second period to turn the score-line on its head and remarkably snatch all three points – Sebastien Haller initially reducing the arrears with a powerful header following a corner from Yassin Ayoub nine minutes into the second half before Utrecht’s marauding 18-year-old full back, Troupee crashed the ball past home ‘keeper, Padt from just inside the area to bring the visitors back on level terms with eleven minutes to play leaving Ayoub to complete the turnaround – the 22-year-old Moroccan capping a fine individual display by waltzing through the home defence and poking the ball past an exposed Padt.

With no wins in their last ten outings – having last tasted victory in mid-November, it is unsurprising to see Excelsior in the midst of the relegation mire and their quest for Eredivisie survival was hardly helped by slipping up at home to Willem II – who themselves appear to have banished any worries relating to their own top flight safety, at the Stadion Woudestein on Saturday evening.

A dour opening period produced few chances and no goals with the hosts coming closest to opening the scoring in the form of full back, Khalid Karami – whose powerful strike from the edge of the area rattled visiting ‘keeper, Kostas Lamprou’s crossbar two minutes before the break.

Following the resumption, the game suddenly sprang to life with two quick-fire strikes just after the hour mark effectively sinking the hosts – Dico Koppers squeezing the ball past Warner Hahn from just outside the box after the home defence failed to clear a long throw in the 62^nd minute before Erik Falkenburg doubled the away side’s advantage just a minute later – heading home a Jordy Croux cross at the near post after the 23-year-old substitute had turned Bas Kuipers inside out on the right.

Things went from bad to worse for Mitchell van der Gaag’s side a minute into added time as they were reduced to ten men – substitute, Danilo Pantic being given his marching orders by referee, Ed Janssen after receiving a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Darryl Lachman.

However, while things were hardly getting any better in one Rotterdam-based outfit’s quest for top flight survival, another – Sparta Rotterdam, snatched a priceless three points following a narrow win over out-of-form, NEC Nijmegen at the Goffertstadion.

The hosts should have taken the lead just after the quarter hour when referee, Martin van den Kerkhof pointed to the spot after a reckless challenge from Mart Dijkstra sent Julian von Haacke sprawling in the visitor’s area only for Sparta ‘keeper, Roy Kortsmit to repel Gregor Breinburg’s spot-kick.

Alex Pastoor’s men – who have a KNVB Beker semi-final against Vitesse Arnhem to look forward to on Wednesday evening, made it five defeats on the bounce for Peter Hyballa’s men – who, having pulled away from the tightest relegation scrap the Netherlands has seen in many years, now appear in danger of being sucked right back into the battle for Eredivisie survival, thanks to a lone strike from Paco van Moorsel – the 27-year-old squeezing the ball between Joris Delle and the NEC ‘keeper’s left hand upright just after the half hour mark.

With just one win in seven outings since the turn of the year ahead of their encounter with struggling Roda JC on Saturday night, SC Heerenveen had appeared in danger of undoing all of the good work that Jurgen Streppel’s men had put in to an impressive first half of the campaign which had seen the Friesians riding the coat-tails of the ‘big three’ in the early part of the season.

Meanwhile, four points from the last six had seen Yannis Anastasiou’s men climb off the foot of the table and out of the bottom three, however, despite the recent arrival of co-owner, Alexei Korotaev and an overhaul of personnel during the January transfer window – bankrolled by the Russian banker’s millions, Roda are still struggling to pull clear of the relegation mire and the Kerkrade-based outfit were easily dispatched at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

The visitor’s cause wasn’t helped by the 54^th minute dismissal of Mohammed El Makrini who was shown a straight red card by referee, Siemen Mulder following a reckless challenge on Real Madrid loanee, Martin Ødegaard.

With the visitors forced to play the remaining 36 minutes with ten men, it came as little surprise when their hosts made the breakthrough on the hour mark – Doke Schmidt rising highest to head home a well-placed set piece from Ødegaard.

The home side eventually killed off their undermanned visitors with a pair of quick-fire strikes in the dying moments – substitute, Henk Veerman squeezing the ball between the impressive Benjamin van Leer and the Roda ‘keeper’s near post in the 89^th minute before Iranian international, Reza Ghoochannejhad beat van Leer from the spot in the second minute of added time – referee, Mulder having awarded the hosts a penalty after Ard van Peppen had sent Sam Larsson tumbling in the area.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at De Adelaarshorst where cup semi-finalist’s Vitesse Arnhem tuned up for their final four encounter with Sparta Rotterdam on Wednesday evening by seeing off hosts, Go Ahead Eagles.

With the home side’s recent revival – which had seen Hans de Koning’s side temporarily climb out of the bottom three after putting together their first back-to-back successes of the season – following up an away triumph over NEC Nijmegen by taking all three points from their relegation showdown with fellow strugglers, ADO Den Haag, having come to an abrupt halt in Kerkrade last time out, the Deventer-based outfit had hoped to catch their high-flying visitors with their eyes on their mid-week cup engagement.

However, despite the home side fashioning the majority of clear-cut chances in the first period, it was Henk Fraser’s side who – having lost their last two on the bounce, hit the front against the run of play with their only real goal-scoring opportunity of a lacklustre first half display – Ricky van Wolfswinkel showing some deft control to bring down a Kelvin Leerdam flick-on and evade the attentions of both Xandro Schenk and Marcel Ritzmaier before poking the ball past home ‘keeper, Theo Zwarthoed from close range just before the half hour mark.

If the visitor’s half time lead had been somewhat underserved, their second half display more than merited all three points – Navarone Foor bending the ball delightfully around Zwarthoed to double the visitor’s advantage seven minutes into the second half before Milot Rashica skinned Ritzmaier and slammed the ball past the home ‘keeper to ultimately seal all three points for the away side ten minutes from time who, as a result, edged back into the UEFA Europa League playoff places despite Arsenal loanee, Daniel Crowley netting a consolation for the home side two minutes from time.

Following a seven-goal thrashing at the hands of Lyon in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League tie on Thursday evening, AZ Alkmaar failed to lift the gloom in the air around the AFAS Stadion a little later on Sunday afternoon as John van den Brom’s side were held by struggling PEC Zwolle.

Despite having a cup semi-final against second tier, SC Cambuur to look forward on Thursday evening, the manner in which van den Brom’s men had been swept aside – shipping eleven goals over two legs in the tie overall against a French side who currently lie a distant fourth in Ligue 1 had led to some serious questions being asked regarding both the attitude of the players and the future of the coach and the growing consternation of those in the stands bubbled back to the surface once more when New Zealander, Ryan Thomas fired the away side into the ascendancy against the run of play three minutes after the break.

After having dominated the opening period, the second stanza became more of an end-to-end affair as the hosts were forced to open up in search of an equaliser and, despite Fred Friday’s close range finish sparing the blushes of van den Brom’s men nine minutes from time, the Nigerian’s fourth goal of the season in AZ colours did little to dispel the growing unrest amongst the supporters who will now turn a wary eye to their cup semi-final against Cambuur – a side who have accounted for both Ajax and FC Utrecht earlier in the competition.

There was little doubt as to which match was the stand-out fixture of the round – with two of the top three going head-to-head at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon where league leaders, Feyenoord took a huge step towards lifting their first Eredivisie title since 1999 by seeing off reigning back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven – effectively ending any hope Phillip Cocu’s men had of retaining their crown for a third season in succession.

With both sides unbeaten in the league in 2017, what was predicted to be a tight affair ultimately proved to be just that despite the home side coming out of the blocks quickly – squandering a host of opportunities in the opening minutes before Jens Toornstra fired the hosts into the ascendancy with just nine minutes on the clock – the 27-year-old Dutchman slamming his tenth of the season in all competitions past visiting ‘keeper, Jeroen Zoet after having been found unmarked just inside the area by a marauding Terence Kongolo.

Despite enjoying the majority of the chances in the first period, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side failed to add to their advantage and were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal when Uruguayan, Gaston Pereiro clawed the visitors back on level terms just after the hour mark – PSV’s top goal-scorer curling the ball delightfully beyond the despairing dive of Feyenoord’s Australian stopper, Brad Jones to restore parity in the 62^nd minute.

When Zoet was saved by the foot of his left hand upright just moments later after being beaten by a Steven Berghuis effort, it seemed as though the wretched luck that has dogged the Rotterdam club time and again over the course of what has been a tumultuous opening to the 21^st Century for one of the country’s ‘big three’, was set to strike again and derail the title ambitions of van Bronckhorst’s side and their long-suffering fan base.

However, there has been an element of irresistibility about Feyenoord’s title charge this term and when the breakthrough eventually did arrive for the hosts – who have suffered defeat on just one occasion all season in the league when they surprisingly went down at the hands of struggling Go Ahead Eagles at De Adelaarshorst at the start of November, it had no small element of fortune about it – referee, Bas Nijhuis at first appearing to rule that Dutch international stopper, Zoet had failed to prevent a Jan-Arie van der Heijden header from crossing the line following a Toornstra corner eight minutes from time via goal-line technology which then triggered a host of prolonged protests from the incredulous visitors before replays later indicated that the PSV ‘keeper had unwittingly taken the ball over the line after having initially denied the Feyenoord centre half.

With the reigning champions having effectively bowed out of the title race, it was over to second-placed, Ajax who, having seen Feyenoord temporarily extend their advantage at the top of the table to eight points, made it seven league wins in a row since the turn of the year by sweeping visitors, Heracles aside at the Amsterdam ArenA in the final match of the weekend, to keep their own title hopes alive and well.

However, despite Danish starlet, Kasper Dolberg having put the hosts into the ascendency with 23 minutes on the clock after capitalising on some poor handling by visiting ‘keeper, Bram Castro when the Heracles stopper failed to hold a Davy Klaassen strike from just outside the area, the home side – who squeezed past Polish champions, Legia Warsaw to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, found themselves pegged back just two minutes later when Samuel Armenteros headed home a Wout Droste cross from the right with 25 minutes gone.

However, any hopes John Stegeman’s men might have harboured of taking home an unlikely point from their trip to Amsterdam were dispelled in the space of four second half minutes – 17-year-old, Matthijs de Ligt restoring the home side’s advantage – heading home his first goal for the first team eleven minutes after the break following a Hakim Ziyech corner from the left before Colombian centre half, Davinson Sanchez made it three on the hour mark with a long range daisy-cutter.

With the home side in complete control and Ajax coach, Peter Bosz having handed recent big-money signing, David Neres his bow for the hosts eighteen minutes from time, Chelsea loanee, Bertrand Traore eventually added a fourth for the Lancers – star man, Ziyech capping off a fine individual performance by serving up a perfect ball for the Burkina Faso international to beat Castro from close range the 90^th minute.

Having once more reduced the gap to bitter rivals, Feyenoord to five points and, with a potentially title-deciding showdown with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s league leaders to come at the start of April, Peter Bosz’s title hopefuls will know, having seen reigning back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven fall by the wayside, that they cannot afford to let up in their relentless pursuit of the Rotterdam giants if they hope to secure a 34^th league title in May.

Results: Week 24

ADO Den Haag 1-1 FC Twente

FC Groningen 2-3 FC Utrecht

Excelsior 0-2 Willem II

NEC Nijmegen 0-1 Sparta Rotterdam

SC Heerenveen 3-0 Roda JC

Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 Vitesse Arnhem

AZ Alkmaar 1-1 PEC Zwolle

Feyenoord 2-1 PSV Eindhoven

AFC Ajax 4-1 Heracles

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The twenty third round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion where hosts Roda JC picked up just their third win of what has been a tumultuous campaign thus far at the expense of fellow strugglers, Go Ahead Eagles.

However, the result hardly reflected the game with the away side- who arrived in Kerkrade for this relegation six-pointer on the back of two straight victories and two points ahead of their hosts in the standings, squandering a host of chances during a goalless first half.

Following the interval it was more of the same – Brighton loanee, Elvis Manu seeing his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Ard van Peppen two minutes into the second half, as the away side pressed for a third win in as many games – looking to put daylight between themselves and the bottom three for the first time since early October.

Hans de Koning’s side should have taken the lead just short of the hour mark through last week’s two-goal hero, Sam Hendriks, but the 22-year-old somehow contrived to fluff his lines despite being mere inches from the line with an unguarded goal at his mercy after a penetrating run by Arsenal loanee, Daniel Crowley down the left had put the chance on a plate for the former Ajax forward.

Hendriks’ remarkable miss proved to be the turning point of the game as ten minutes later a Mitchel Paulissen free kick from the left was met sweetly on the volley by an unmarked Chris Kum who – having seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside, escaped the attentions of the visitor’s rear guard and rifled the ball past Theo Zwarthoed from close range to give the hosts an ultimately decisive advantage which lifted Yannis Anastasiou’s men over their visitors and out of the bottom three ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at De Grolsch Veste where hosts, FC Twente welcomed the news that their long term financial future had been secured by inflicting a fifth defeat in six matches on guests, Heerenveen.

Having already saved the club from bankruptcy thanks to an earlier loan of €17 million, Enschede council once more came to the rescue of the financially troubled club by voting on Thursday to lend the club an additional €8.4 million which, along with the earlier loan, will be repaid over the course of the next 30 years – allowing the club to begin to repay some of the sizeable debts they owe.

Following a goalless opening period, the hosts would receive another gift eight minutes after the restart when Manchester City loanee, Enes Unal was sent tumbling in the box by visiting ‘keeper, Erwin Mulder – leaving referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk to point to the spot. Despite replays later suggesting that there had been little contact on the Turkish marksman the decision stood and Polish international, Mateusz Klich made no mistake from the resultant spot kick – sending Mulder – who, given the ruling, had been lucky to remain on the field, the wrong way to put the home side into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Elsewhere, things continue to look bleak for Excelsior after Mitchell van der Gaag’s undermanned side were hit for four in Almelo at the hands of Heracles.

The visitors arrived at the Polman Stadion on a wretched run of form that had seen the Rotterdam-based outfit take just six points from their last ten outings.

Having failed to win a game since mid-November, the visitor’s cause was hardly helped by the 34^th minute dismissal of Jurgen Mattheij – who received his marching orders from referee, Siemen Mulder after picking up his second booking in the space of seven minutes following a trip on Samuel Armenteros just outside the visitor’s area.

Having been reduced to ten men, the luckless visitor’s then had their misery compounded when Brandley Kuwas handed the hosts the lead eight minutes later – the 24-year-old converting from close range after the ball had cannoned back off Warner Hahn’s crossbar.

Things went from bad to worse for van der Gaag’s charges following the interval – Thomas Bruns converting a well-placed cut-back from Peter van Ooijen to double the host’s advantage just short of the hour mark.

Eight minutes later two became three as Mike te Wierik – having evaded the non-existent Excelsior marking, slammed the ball past Hahn from a narrow angle after being picked out by a well-weighted pass from goal-scorer, Bruns before a Kristoffer Peterson header completed the rout six minutes from time.

PSV Eindhoven kept their title hopes alive – making it six wins from six since the turn of the year by seeing off NEC Nijmegen at the Philips Stadion on Saturday evening.

After a fairly unremarkable opening 19 minutes, Steven Bergwijn cut inside from the right and was sent tumbling in the area under the attentions of Janio Bikel leaving referee, Jochem Kamphuis little choice but to point to the spot from which Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel made no mistake – firing the ball past the despairing dive of visiting ‘keeper, Joris Delle.

However, Peter Hyballa’s side – who arrived in Eindhoven on the back of three straight defeats, were back on level terms on the half hour – Ali Messaoud slamming home a perfectly placed cross from Andre Fomitschow from just inside the area.

Despite the setback, Phillip Cocu’s men would retake the lead ten minutes after the break through a scrambled effort from Bart Ramselaar who forced the ball home at the second time of asking after initially being denied by a combination of Delle and Michael Heinloth.

After Hector Moreno had rattled Delle’s crossbar deep into added time, the home side did eventually add a third – Luuk de Jong tucking away a pinpoint Santiago Arias cross from the right in the 94^th minute.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the Stadion Galgenwaard where hosts, FC Utrecht ended PEC Zwolle’s recent revival.

Ron Jans’ side came into this encounter having put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three after posting three wins from their last four outings but were second best here – the home side capping a dominant first half display by taking the lead through the unlucky Bram van Polen, who in an effort to ward off the attentions of Gyrano Kerk, unwittingly put the ball past his own keeper to hand the hosts the advantage a minute before the break.

Kerk’s inclusion by coach, Erik ten Hag – who omitted Ajax loanee, Richairo Zivkovic to accommodate the 21-year-old in the starting eleven, was justified four minutes after the resumption when, having been denied a goal a minute before the half time interval, the young forward stabbed home a Sean Klaiber cross from close range to double the host’s advantage.

Nacer Barazite had also been surprisingly omitted from the starting line-up named by ten Hag ahead of this encounter, but the former Arsenal man sent a message to his coach by coming off the bench and adding the home side’s third of the evening ten minutes from time.

Despite having been comprehensively out-played in all departments, Ron Jans’ side did eventually get on the scoresheet – Birmingham City loanee, Nicolai Brock-Madsen capping off the visitor’s only real attack of note by looping the ball over the despairing dive of home keeper, David Jensen four minutes from time.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Tilburg where a sluggish AZ Alkmaar were surprisingly held by Willem II.

Despite seeing their chances of progression into the round of 16 of this season’s UEFA Europa League effectively come to an end after being hit for four at home to Lyon on Thursday evening, John van den Brom’s men looked to have secured all three points at the Koning Willem II Stadion when Derrick Luckassen put the visitors into the ascendancy with nineteen minutes to play – the centre half heading home an Iliass Bel Hassani corner from close range in the 71^st minute.

However, the exertions of Thursday evening’s tie eventually told. With the visitor’s concentration lapsing, Erik Falkenberg salvaged a valuable point for Erwin van de Looi’s men – the 28-year-old beating Tim Krul to Waford loanee, Obbi Oulare’s flick-on two minutes into added time.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands’ only other representative left in continental competition this season – Ajax, kept up the pressure on league leaders, Feyenoord by temporarily closing the gap at the top of the table to just two points by virtue of a narrow win in Arnhem.

Having been held controversially scoreless in Warsaw in the 1^st leg of their round of 32 UEFA Europa League tie against Legia on Thursday evening, Peter Bosz’s men wasted little time asserting their authority over a Vitesse Arnhem side who came into their second home fixture on the bounce on the back of a surprise reversal at the hands of Willem II and it was the man whose goal was controversially ruled out in Poland due to a lack of goal-line technology – Ajax skipper, Davy Klaassen, whose 26^th minute strike ultimately secured all three points for the visitors.

Klaassen’s goal stood despite the vehement protestations of the hosts who believed that Hakim Ziyech had brought down Milot Rashica at the other end of the field just seconds before Amin Younes teed up his skipper to put the title-chasing visitors into the ascendency.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage in the strangest of ways when a miss-hit cross from centre half, Nick Viergever rattled Eloy Room’s crossbar just past the half hour mark.

Having waved away the home side’s appeals for a penalty five minutes into the second period when Ajax’s Colombian centre half,  Davinson Sanchez sent Ricky van Wolfswinkel tumbling in the visitor’s area, referee, Kevin Blom then further drew the ire of the home supporters by awarding a spot kick at the other end after substitute, Navarone Foor pulled back Ziyech in the host’s area following a quick free kick by Lasse Schone with fourteen minutes to play. Yet Klaassen failed to double the visitor’s advantage – the Dutch international seeing his spot-kick beaten away by Room to leave the result in doubt until the very end.

Despite having a cup semi-final to look forward to at the start of March, a run of ten Eredivisie games without a win had seen Sparta Rotterdam slide into the bottom three prior to the host’s encounter with Groningen on Sunday afternoon.

Things hadn’t been much better for their visitors, who, following a mid-season revival which had seen them climb away from the wrong end of the table, Ernest Faber’s men arrived at Het Kasteel winless in their last four outings and seemed set to extend that unwanted run when Paco van Moorsel put Alex Pastoor’s strugglers into an eighth minute lead – the 27-year-old beating visiting ‘keeper, Sergio Padt from close range following a goal-mouth scramble before Ivan Calero doubled the host’s advantage nine minutes later.

However, a much needed first league win since early November ultimately proved elusive for Pastoor’s men who allowed their guests back into the contest just four minutes later – Ruben Jenssen slamming the ball past Roy Kortsmit after the Sparta ‘keeper had initially denied a suspiciously offside looking Simon Tibbling.

Remarkably, the two sides would go in at the break on level terms – Mimoun Mahi lashing in his tenth of the season via Kortsmit’s right hand upright from the edge of the area a minute before the break.

Even with the visitors reduced to ten men following the 52^nd minute dismissal of Juninho Bacuna – who, having been dismissed during last weekend’s defeat at the hands of league leaders, Feyenoord, received his marching orders for the second game in succession from referee, Allard Lindhout following a reckless two-footed lunge on Mart Dijkstra, Pastoor’s men failed to turn their numerical advantage into three points but – by virtue of the draw, did edge out of the bottom three at the expense of Go Ahead Eagles.

The twenty third round of Eredivisie action was concluded in The Hague where league leaders Feyenoord restored their five point cushion at the top of the standings after squeezing past rock-bottom, ADO Den Haag at the Kyocera Stadion.

Having ushered in the Alfons Groenendijk era in inauspicious fashion – suffering a comprehensive defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers, Go Ahead Eagles last time out – a reversal which had seen ADO slide to the bottom of the pile in the Dutch top flight as a result, the hosts looked far more resolute here – keeping the free-scoring league leaders scoreless during a largely uneventful opening period.

However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side – whose only league defeat this season came at the hands of the lowly Deventer-based outfit at the start of November and who have yet to drop a single point since the turn of the year, maintained their 100% start to 2017 in the league thanks to a solitary strike by Karim El Ahmadi just after the hour mark – the Moroccan latching onto Miquel Nelom’s deflected cross from the left before crashing the ball past ADO’s back-up ‘keeper, Robert Zwinkels from just outside the box to keep the Rotterdam giants on course for a first Eredivisie title since 1999.

Having set up what would ultimately prove to be the only goal of a tight affair, Nelom then appeared to get away with what looked to be a clear clip on the heels of ex-Feyenoord man , Ruben Schaken with just over a quarter of an hour left to play.

However, despite substitute, Mike Havenaar testing the reflexes of Feyenoord’s Australian ‘keeper, Brad Jones on a couple of occasions in the closing stages, the visitors held on to restore their five point advantage over nearest challenger’s, Ajax ahead of entertaining third placed, PSV Eindhoven – who themselves sit a further three points adrift in the standings, in what will prove to be a real test of both side’s title credentials next Sunday afternoon at De Kuip in the stand-out fixture of round 24.

Results: Week 23

Roda JC 1-0 Go Ahead Eagles

FC Twente 1-0 SC Heerenveen

Heracles 4-0 Excelsior

PSV Eindhoven 3-1 NEC Nijmegen

FC Utrecht 3-1 PEC Zwolle

Willem II 1-1 AZ Alkmaar

Vitesse Arnhem 0-1 AFC Ajax

Sparta Rotterdam 2-2 FC Groningen

ADO Den Haag 0-1 Feyenoord

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The twenty second round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at the MAC3PARK Stadion where hosts, PEC Zwolle made it three wins in four outings by dispatching visitors, NEC Nijmegen to move six points clear of the bottom three ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

In a goalless first period, Ajax loanee, Queensy Menig went closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts – seeing his rasping right footed effort from just outside the area cannon back off visiting ‘keeper, Joris Delle’s left hand upright five minutes before the break. Yet, having gone so close to heading into the interval a goal-to-the-good, instead the home side almost went into the break trailing – NEC centre half, Dario Dumic seeing his low drive from the edge of the box smartly tipped onto the post by home ‘keeper, Mickey van der Hart in the 45^th minute.

But it was after the interval that the game truly sprang to life – Birmingham City loanee, Nicolai Brock-Madsen’s deflected effort looping over Delle’s despairing dive to give Ron Jans’ men the advantage twelve minutes into the second half.

The hosts could have doubled their advantage seven minutes later when New Zealander, Ryan Thomas unleashed a rasping effort from the edge of the area which rattled Delle’s crossbar.

However, the hosts were almost made to pay for their profligacy when a Mohamed Rayhi blockbuster from well outside the area shook van der Hart’s crossbar in the 71^st minute

Having ridden their luck somewhat, the home side found a second just a minute later – a Dirk Marcellis cross from the right finding Menig who, having fluffed his first attempt, made no mistake with his second – crashing the ball past Delle from close range to ultimately secure all three points for the suddenly upwardly mobile hosts.

The defeat was the third on the bounce for Peter Hyballa’s men who, despite being seven points clear of the bottom three, will now be looking anxiously over their shoulder with a trip to Eindhoven to come next week.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Almelo where visitors Roda JC secured a vital point on the road in their battle to avoid the drop.

The optimism surrounding last week’s unveiling of new co-owner, Russian millionaire, Aleksei Korotaev in Kerkrade had not translated into victory on the field against title chasing, Ajax and coach, Yannis Anastasiou knew that with a crucial relegation six-pointer with fellow strugglers Go Ahead Eagles to come next Friday, his side had to start collecting points before it was too late and the Greek’s side looked set to take all three when, following a goalless opening period, the visitors bagged two goals in the space of three minutes just after the hour mark – Mitchel Paulissen’s deflected effort from just outside the area on 65 minutes putting Anastasiou’s men a goal-to-the-good before Tom van Hyfte doubled the away side’s advantage with a well struck left footed half volley from range in the 68^th.

Hosts, Heracles meanwhile had secured a remarkable come-from-behind victory over Willem II last time out to snap a three-game losing streak and record their first points since the turn of the year and John Stegeman’s men pulled themselves back into the contest eleven minutes from time through top scorer, Samuel Armenteros who, following a neatly cushioned header from Robin Propper just outside the area, beat Roda centre half, Daryl Werker before slotting the ball past Benjamin van Leer in the visiting goal.

The talismanic Swede completed the host’s comeback with an unmarked back post header – notching his thirteenth goal of the season in all competitions and, in the process, salvaging a point for the home side three minutes from time.

A little later on Saturday evening, league leaders, Feyenoord extended their advantage at the top of the Eredivisie standings to eight points over second place, Ajax by seeing off ten-man Groningen at De Kuip.

Ernest Faber’s men arrived in Rotterdam in confident mood having put together a six-game unbeaten run either side of the winter break that had seen the early season strugglers suddenly on the fringes of the tussle for the end-of-season UEFA Europa League playoffs.

However, the visitor’s confidence seemed to ebb away after Jens Toornstra put the home side into the ascendancy seven minutes before the break – Watford loanee, Steven Berghuis knocking the ball through the legs of Yoell van Nieff before hitting the by-line and finding Toornstra unmarked on the edge of the box to side foot the ball through a cluster of bodies into the corner of Sergio Padt’s net.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men doubled their advantage just before the mid-point of the second half and it was Toornstra who was again on hand with goal number nine of an outstanding season personally for the 27-year-old Dutchman – smashing the ball past Padt from close range to ultimately secure all three points for the league leaders following a delightful back heel from Jan-Arie van der Heijden after the visitors failed to clear their lines following a Feyenoord free kickin the 66^th minute.

The away side’s cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of Juninho Bacuna fifteen minutes from time – the midfielder being given a straight red card by referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk for what the official deemed to be a reckless challenge from behind on Terence Kongolo.

At the same time, struggling Go Ahead Eagles continued their recent revival – following up their first away win of the season last time out at the expense of NEC Nijmegen by recording their first back-to-back victories since returning to the Dutch top flight last summer by coming out on top in their crucial relegation six-pointer with free falling ADO Den Haag at De Adelaarshorst.

Remarkably, it had taken until 7^th February for the axe to fall on a member of the coaching fraternity in the Eredivisie – ADO relieving Zeljko Petrovic of his duties on Tuesday morning following a run of just four wins in 21 games in all competitions following a bright start to the campaign that had seen the men from The Hague collect ten points from their opening four outings.

Stepping in to replace the out-going Montenegrin was former VV Katwijk, Willem II, Den Bosch, Jong Ajax and Excelsior coach, Alfons Groenendijk – the 52-year-old having signed a deal with the Eredivisie strugglers until the end of the current season with an option of a 2-year extension on the table should he prove successful in guiding the side away from the drop-zone.

However, Groenendijk will have his work cut out to turn around the fortunes of a side that appear to be desperately short of confidence and, after coming up short in what was must-win encounter in Deventer, have now posted just one win and ten defeats in their last eleven outings in all competitions.

For his opposite number, Hans de Koning – whose own job appeared under threat until just recently and whose side came into this encounter a point off their visitors – propping up the table in 18^th place, things have finally begun to look up with even his side’s previously goal-shy attack, at long last, clicking into gear.

Despite missing the suspended Darren Maatsen and Elvis Manu, the hosts racked up another three here – Sam Hendriks putting the Eagles a goal up seven minutes before the break – tapping in at the back post after visiting ‘keeper, Ernestas Setkus flapped at a Jarchinio Antonia cross from the right before doubling the Deventer-based outfit’s advantage twelve minutes into the second half – breaking away to score after capitalising on a poor attempted clearance from ADO skipper, Tom Beugelsdijk.

The visitor’s cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of their Lithuanian ‘stopper, Setkus who was given his marching orders by referee, Ed Janssen seventeen minutes from time for bringing down Hendriks as the two-goal striker seemed set to wrap up his hat trick after having rounded ADO’s exposed ‘keeper following yet another break away by the home side.

With Groenendijk having used all three of his substitutions, midfielder, Dion Malone was forced to pull on the gloves with the travelling fans no doubt anticipating the worst was yet to come for their side. However, the visitors dug deep and clawed their way back into the contest from the spot – substitute, Abdenasser El Khayati sending home ‘keeper Theo Zwarthoed the wrong way after substitute, Rochdi Achenteh had been adjudged by referee, Jansson to have tugged down Beugelsdijk in the area in four minutes from time.

Yet, the visitor’s comeback failed to materialise and the Groenendijk era in The Hague would begin with the side hitting rock bottom – slumping to 18^th position in the table after PSV Eindhoven loanee, Marcel Ritzmaier ensured it would be back-to-back wins for the hosts for the first time this season and that the Eagles would not only move out of the Eredivisie basement but out of the bottom three as well by beautifully lobbing the ball over stand-in ‘keeper, Malone from midway inside the away side’s half in the 90^th minute.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the GelreDome where visitors, Willem II put their inexplicable capitulation at home to ten-man Heracles last time out behind them by securing three priceless points on the road at the expense of in-form Vitesse Arnhem.

Henk Fraser’s men came into this encounter unbeaten since the turn of the year – posting four wins and a draw thus far from their five outings in all competitions in 2017 which included securing progression to the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker at the expense of cup holders, Feyenoord and the hosts dominated this encounter for long periods and should have taken the lead when Moroccan, Adnane Tighadouini rattled Kostas Lamprou’s crossbar with a rasping right-footed drive from just outside the area just after the half hour mark.

However, try as they might, the home side failed to make the breakthrough and, with the game seemingly headed for a goalless draw, a late strike from Dico Koppers six minutes from time rocked the hosts who then conceded again in the fourth minute of added time as they chased an equaliser in vain – Watford loanee, Obbi Oulare breaking away to net his first in Willem II colours following the 21-year-old Belgian’s temporary switch from Vicarage Road in January.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Stadion Woudestijn where Excelsior – without a win since mid-November, earned a precious point their battle to avoid the drop at the expense of visitors, FC Twente.

Nigel Hasselbaink had already seen one effort ruled out for offside before giving the hosts the lead on the quarter hour but Mitchell van der Gaag’s strugglers were unable to hold on to all three points – Fredrik Jensen equalising for the visitors ten minutes before the break from close range to ultimately earn a share of the spoils for Rene Hake’s men.

With one eye on a round of 32 UEFA Europa League showdown with Legia Warsaw to come in Poland on Thursday evening, Ajax – who, prior to kick-off, paid tribute to former great, Piet Keizer – who passed away on Saturday following a short illness at the age of 73, continued to keep up the pressure on league leaders, Feyenoord by dispatching another relegation threatened side – Sparta Rotterdam at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday afternoon.

Alex Pastoor’s side arrived with the intention of frustrating the home side and their tactic seemed set to send the two sides in goalless at half time until Chelsea loanee, Bertrand Traore – fresh from African Cup of Nations duty with Burkina Faso, stepped in from the right and wrong footed visiting ‘keeper, Roy Kortsmit – rolling the ball in at the near post with his left foot to put the Lancers into the ascendancy on the stroke of half time.

Peter Bosz’s men made it five wins on the bounce four minutes into the second half – Hakim Ziyech side-stepping Michel Breuer before hitting the by-line and teeing up Danish starlet, Kasper Dolberg who made no mistake from the edge of the box to notch his 13^th goal in all competitions this season.

The hosts should have had more and could have made it three just short of the hour mark but Traore was denied his second of the game by a smart near post parry by Kortsmit who was then relieved to see the ball cannon off his left hand upright to safety before Breuer cleared a goal-bound header from Nick Viergever off the line with five minutes to play.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar warmed up for their own round of 32 UEFA Europa League encounter with Lyon on Thursday evening by snapping a run of three games without a win – overcoming  another team hopeful of competing in Europe next season – Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

The host’s European ambitions have taken a battering of late – Jurgen Streppel’s side having recorded just a single win in all competitions since the turn of the year – a run which included another loss to John van den Brom’s men in the quarter finals of the KNVB Beker at the end of January and the home side’s cause wasn’t helped by conceding an early goal – Muamer Tankovic giving the visitors the lead with 17 minutes on the clock – tucking in the rebound after home ‘keeper, Erwin Mulder had denied Wout Weghorst from close range.

The home side should have been on level terms nine minutes before the break but Morten Thorsby saw his low drive from the edge of the box come back off the foot of Tim Krul’s right hand upright.

Having ridden their luck, the visitors doubled their advantage twelve minutes after the restart – Iliass Bel Hassani smashing the ball past Mulder from the edge of the area after the home side failed to clear their lines following a Tankovic corner from the left.

Reza Ghoochannejhad did pull the hosts back into the contest with eleven minutes to play with a smart turn and finish but the Iranian international’s fifteenth strike of the season in all competitions ultimately proved insufficient to earn Streppel’s men anything in terms of points.

The home side’s cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of Jerry St. Juste deep into added time – referee, Bas Nijhuis giving the centre half his marching orders following the 20-year-old’s second booking of the match after a rash challenge on Mattias Johansson in the dying seconds of the contest.

The twenty second round of Eredivisie action was concluded at the Philips Stadion where back-to-back reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven kept the top two in sight by seeing off high flying, FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors where unlucky not to take the lead in the 21^st minute of a goalless opening period after Nacer Barazite saw his close range finish wrongly ruled out for offside by referee, Dennis Higler, before the game suddenly sprang to life eight minutes into the second stanza – Luuk de Jong guiding home a looping header from a Davy Propper corner in the 53^rd minute to finally break the deadlock.

The hosts doubled their advantage just two minutes later – substitute, Steven Bergwijn crashing home a left wing cross from star man, de Jong from just inside the area.

The hosts should have made it three in the 69^th minute but for Propper’s long range blockbuster to come back off David Jensen’s crossbar. However, Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel did eventually put the icing on a dominant second half performance by Phillip Cocu’s men by adding a third deep into added time – crashing the ball home from the edge of the area in the third additional minute to give the hosts their fifth win on the bounce since the turn of the year.

In a week where fellow title rivals, Ajax face tricky trips to Poland and Arnhem, Cocu will hope that his side can whittle away the three point gap between the reigning champions and Peter Bosz’s side who currently occupy second place and a gateway to the qualifying rounds of the lucrative UEFA Champions League when they play host to out-of-form, NEC Nijmegen on Saturday evening.

Results: Week 22

PEC Zwolle 2-0 NEC Nijmegen

Heracles 2-2 Roda JC

Feyenoord 2-0 FC Groningen

Go Ahead Eagles 3-1 ADO Den Haag

Vitesse Arnhem 0-2 Willem II

Excelsior 1-1 FC Twente

AFC Ajax 2-0 Sparta Rotterdam

SC Heerenveen 1-2 AZ Alkmaar

PSV Eindhoven 3-0 FC Utrecht

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Following an eventful transfer window for many clubs in the Dutch top flight, the Eredivisie resumed on Friday evening in The Hague where Vitesse Arnhem continued their push for a UEFA Europa League playoff place at the expense of their struggling hosts, ADO Den Haag – who suffered their fourth loss on the bounce despite coach, Zeljko Petrovic handing starts to new signings; Guyon Fernandez, Abdenasser El Khayati and Randy Wolters.

A pair of strikes either side of the half hour mark ultimately did the damage for the visitors at the Kyocera Stadion who took the lead through Adnane Tighadouini – the Moroccan curling the ball past home ‘keeper, Ernestas Setkus with 29 minutes on the clock before RIcky van Wolfswinkel broke the host’s offside trap to double the away side’s advantage two minutes later to secure a third win in a row in all competitions for Henk Fraser’s men who remain unbeaten since the turn of the year.

While ADO’a purchases from January’s bargain rail have yet to bear fruit, elsewhere, some shrewd winter recruitment has begun to pay dividends – not least in Deventer, where bottom-of-the-table, Go Ahead Eagles, at long last, recorded their first win on the road in the Eredivisie since returning to the top flight of Dutch football last summer at the expense of NEC Nijmegen at the Goffertstadion on Saturday evening.

Having taken just three points on their travels all season, Hans de Koning’s men arrived in Nijmegen three points adrift at the bottom of the standings following last week’s reversal at home to Utrecht.

However, the impressive displays of their winter reinforcements – especially the form of Pedro Chirivella and Elvis Manu who arrived in Deventer on loan from Liverpool and Brighton respectively, had given the struggling Eagles and their fans cause for optimism despite their precarious league position and it was the aforementioned Manu and another new arrival – Arsenal loanee, Daniel Crowley, who combined to fire the away side into the ascendancy with just twelve minutes on the clock – Crowley feeding Manu before the former Feyenoord forward powered his way past five would-be tacklers before firing the ball past an exposed Joris Delle in the Nijmegen goal.

Having shown glimpses of what they are capable of in their three outings since the turn of the year, the Eagles’ new recruits  at last appear to be ready to fire on all cylinders in the battle to retain Eredivisie status for the Deventer-based outfit and it was two more new arrivals who combined to double the visitor’s advantage thirteen minutes later – Jarchinio Antonia – who re-joined the club after parting ways with Groningen earlier in the campaign, running on to a perfectly weighted ball from Liverpool loanee, Chirivella before burning off Gregor Breinburg and flashing the ball past Delle.

Peter Hyballa’s side looked out of sorts for much of the contest but were handed a way back into the match just after the hour mark when referee, Bjorn Kuipers opted to turn down the away side’s appeals for a penalty following a coming together between Manu and Mikael Dyrestam and instead award the incredulous forward a second yellow card of the match after having picked up his first for petulantly kicking the ball away mid-way through the first half.

Despite playing the best part of half an hour with ten men, the visitors were scarcely troubled by their hosts whose eventual response from 18-year-old, Jay-Roy Grot in the second minute of added time came too little too late.

In spite of taking home all three points, Hans de Koning’s side continue to prop up the table by virtue of an inferior goal difference and now face a crucial fortnight with the outcome of back-to-back encounters with fellow strugglers, ADO  and Roda likely to decide their top flight future.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven kept alive their fading title hopes by coming away with all three points from a potentially tricky trip to high-flying, AZ Alkmaar.

Phillip Cocu’s men arrived in Alkmaar eight points adrift of league leader’s, Feyenoord and three behind second placed, Ajax having taken maximum points since the turn of the year while the home side – who handed a debut to on-loan Dutch international ‘keeper, Tim Krul, came into this encounter eleven points further back but with an opportunity to leap-frog both Heerenveen and Vitesse into fourth place.

But it was the visitors who came out of the blocks first – Jetro Willems cutting in from the left and weaving his way through the AZ rear guard before slamming the ball past an exposed Krul to put the visitors a goal-to the-good with just 13 minutes on the clock before the injury-plagued Dutch international repeated the trick three minutes later to double the away side’s advantage.

However, John van den Brom’s men pulled themselves back into the contest just a minute later curtesy of Alireza Jahanbkhsh capitalising on a poor pass from Andres Guardado to break free down the right and set up Fred Friday for a simple finish from just inside the area.

The Mexican international would make amends four minutes before the break – floating in a perfectly weighted free kick for Luuk de Jong to head back across goal for an onrushing Gaston Pereiro to restore the visitor’s two-goal advantage.

Any chance that the home side may have harboured of taking something from this encounter took a severe blow when Stijn Wuytens received a second yellow card from referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk following a rash challenge on Luuk de Jong who then killed off the under-manned hosts with the away side’s fourth ten minutes from time – stabbing the ball past Krul from close range following a pinpoint cross from Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel, despite Friday picking up his second of the evening for van den Brom’s side after out-muscling German centre half, Daniel Schwaab on the left five minutes later.

Meanwhile, ten-man Heracles came away with all three points from their meeting with Willem II in Tilburg.

The two sides came into this encounter separated by just one place and one point and were looking to record a victory that would put significant distance between themselves and the relegation dogfight below.

However, the odds seemed stacked against John Stegeman’s side who were reduced to ten men after just 21 minutes when referee, Allard Lindhout gave, Bram Castro his marching orders after the Heracles ‘keeper had brought down Watford loanee, Obbi Oulare in the area with Willem II’s new arrival through on goal.

The home side’s Spanish marksman, Fran Sol made no mistake from the resultant spot-kick – sending back-up ‘stopper, Renze Fij the wrong way, to put the hosts into the ascendancy and the reserve ‘keeper would keep his side in the contest – palming a Thom Haye free kick onto the bar just prior to the half time interval.

Despite being reduced to ten men, the away side would claw their way back into the contest through a spectacular long range strike from Peter van Ooijen just after the hour mark before remarkably taking the lead when Kristoffer Peterson prodded the ball past Kostas Lamprou from close range three minutes later.

Three minutes later, Robin Gosens was on hand to snatch a third from close range to ultimately seal all three points for the under-manned visitors – leaving home coach, Erwin van de Looi scratching his head in disbelief at the sight of his side’s remarkable capitulation.

The search for a first victory of 2017 continues for both, FC Groningen and relegation-threatened, Excelsior after the two played out a drab 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.

Following a goalless opening period at the Noordlease Stadion, Ernest Faber’s side broke the deadlock three minutes after the resumption – Mimoun Mahi firing the hosts into the ascendancy from the spot after referee, Edwin van de Graaf ruled that Milan Massop had pulled back Etienne Reijnen in the area.

However the 22-year-old’s ninth goal of the season wasn’t enough to secure all three points for the hosts who, having ridden their luck when Hicham Faik curled the ball onto Sergio Padt’s crossbar in the 66^th minute, were eventually pegged back ten minutes from time – substitute, Anouar Hadouir unleashing a rasping strike from well outside the area that left Padt rooted to the spot.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Kerkrade where title-chasing, Ajax temporarily closed the gap to league leaders, Feyenoord to two points after eventually seeing off struggling Roda JC at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

Having bankrolled a slew of new signings during the January transfer window, Russian millionaire, Aleksei Korotaev took the opportunity to unveil new consultant, Nicolas Anelka and outline his intention of reaching the UFEA Champions League within five years after having assumed co-ownership of the Kerkrade-based outfit earlier in the week – piling the pressure on coach, Yannis Anastasiou to guide a side who had tasted success on just two occasions all season prior to the visit of Peter Bosz’s side, to Eredivisie safety.

Following a goalless opening period, Ajax’s inspirational skipper, Davy Klaassen eventually broke the deadlock – netting his fourteenth goal of the season in all competitions eight minutes after the interval by squeezing the ball past home ‘keeper, Benjamin van Leer from just outside the box after being teed up by some strong hold-up play by Kasper Dolberg.

With first, Amin Younes and then substitute, Abdelhak Nouri rattling van Leer’s crossbar in the final quarter of an hour, Peter Bosz’s charges should have made the points safe long before the 23-year-old German added a second for the visitors three minutes into added time.

Elsewhere, despite being reduced to ten men, relegation-threatened, PEC Zwolle took the opportunity to leapfrog fellow strugglers, Sparta Rotterdam following a five-goal thriller at Het Kasteel on Sunday afternoon.

Ron Jans’ men should have taken the lead two minutes before the break but home ‘keeper, Roy Kortsmit managed to push a Danny Holla free kick onto his left hand upright to ensure that Alex Pastoor’s men went in at the interval on level terms.

However, the away side soon made their hosts pay following the resumption – Ajax loanee, Queensy Menig skipping around the exposed Kortsmit to put the hosts into the ascendency six minutes into the second half following a well-weighted through ball from another man on loan from Ajax – Django Warmerdam.

The visitors doubled their advantage eleven minutes later through another loanee – Birmingham City striker, Nicolai Brock-Madsen – who made no mistake when an incisive through ball from Holla found the Danish marksman with time and space aplenty to beat the helpless Kortsmit with his fourth of the season in all competitions.

Despite Bart Schenkeveld being given his marching orders by referee, Bas Nijhuis after picking up a second yellow card in the 84^th minute, the points seemed safe when substitute, Erik Israelsson headed in a third for the visitors four minutes from time.

However, a late double from Mathias Pogba in added time left the visitors hanging on for dear life to a result that could ultimately prove crucial in both side’s battle to avoid the drop come the end of the season.

Meanwhile, despite turning in a far from vintage performance, league leaders, Feyenoord restored their five point cushion at the top of the Eredivisie standings by eventually seeing off a dogged FC Twente at De Grolsch Veste.

Following a goalless opening period, a seventh successive league triumph for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side was secured by virtue of two goals in the final quarter of an hour in Enschede – Eljero Elia escaping the attentions of Dylan Seys before squaring the ball for an unmarked Eric Botteghin to net another priceless goal in the Rotterdam giants’ quest for a first league title triumph since the turn of the century with fifteen minutes to play.

With the hosts stretched in search of an equaliser, the visitors made sure of the points when Feyenoord’s top scorer, Nicolai Jorgensen squeezed the ball between home ‘keeper, Nick Marsman and the near post three minutes from time.

The twenty first round of action was concluded at the Stadion Galgenwaard where it ended ten-a-side as FC Utrecht recorded their second win in as many outings to leapfrog visitors, Heerenveen into fourth place in the standings.

With the home side having squandered a plethora of chances to take the lead in the opening stages, Andreas Ludwig eventually fired the hosts into the lead with 25 minutes on the clock – squeezing the ball past visiting ‘keeper, Erwin Mulder from the narrowest of angles after being found in space on the right by Sofyan Amrabat after the away side failed to clear their lines following a corner.

Try as they might, Heerenveen just couldn’t force and equaliser – Morten Thorsby going closest for the visitors – flicking a corner onto David Jensen’s left hand upright just before the break before a tense and progressively tempestuous affair boiled over in the final eight minutes – Swede, Sam Larsson being shown a second yellow card from referee, Jochem Kamphuis in the 83^rd minute before goal-scorer, Ludwig was also sent for an early shower four minutes later after receiving a straight red card for what the official somewhat harshly adjudged to be a stamp on the back of the left knee of Real Madrid loanee, Martin Odegaard.         

Results: Week 21

ADO Den Haag 0-2 Vitesse Arnhem

NEC Nijmegen 1-2 Go Ahead Eagles

AZ Alkmaar 2-4 PSV Eindhoven

Willem II 1-3 Heracles Almelo

FC Groningen 1-1 Excelsior

Roda JC 0-2 AFC Ajax

Sparta Rotterdam 2-3 PEC Zwolle

FC Twente 0-2 Feyenoord

FC Utrecht 1-0 SC Heerenveen

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