The twenty fifth round of action in the Dutch top flight got underway at the Noordlease Stadion where relegation-threatened, NAC Breda kept fellow strugglers, Groningen in sight thanks to an 86^th minute equaliser from Mitchell te Vrede.

The hosts were unlucky not to take the lead ten minutes into what would ultimately prove to be a goalless opening period when, having evaded the attentions of both Lucas Schoofs and Pablo Mari, Mimoun Mahi saw his fierce effort from the edge of the box come back off Nigel Bertrams’ crossbar.

However, the home side looked to be on course to open up a seven-point gap between themselves and Stijn Vreven’s men when the unlucky Pablo Mari diverted a Django Warmerdam cross past his own ‘keeper in the 66^th minute as the NAC skipper attempted to keep Mahi at bay on the edge of the box.

Having come into this encounter seven points clear of the bottom three, the hosts were unlucky not to extend their lead when first, substitute, Ajdin Hrustic saw his low drive clip the outside of Bertrams’ left hand upright with the visiting ‘keeper left rooted to the spot after the ball struck Pablo Mari on its way through with seventy seven minutes gone before Gamba Osaka loanee, Ritsu Doan was denied by the bar seven minutes from time.

Groningen’s failure to take those chances would ultimately prove crucial when the visitors, who had earlier come within a whisker of restoring parity themselves when Thomas Agyepong’s speculative effort from well outside the area clipped Sergio Padt’s crossbar a minute before the break, snatched a late share of the spoils when, having stolen a march on Yoell van Nieff to latch onto a perfectly weighted through-ball from second half replacement, Paolo Fernandes, recent arrival, Mitchell te Vrede, having seen his initial effort blocked, beat Padt at the second time of asking four minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the AFAS Stadion where high-flying AZ Alkmaar left it late to see off bottom-of-the-table Sparta Rotterdam.

Despite Alireza Jahanbakhsh seeing a 9^th minute effort strike the foot of Jannik Huth’s right hand upright, it was the visitors who would ultimately break the deadlock when Julian Chabot rose highest to nod home a Ryan Sanusi corner ten minutes later.

However, the away side’s lead would only last until a minute before the break when, having drawn the attentions of Huth, Oussama Idrissi rounded off a fantastic team move by squaring the ball for skipper, Wout Weghorst to claim his nineteenth of the campaign in all competitions.

Having set up the equaliser, Idrissi would then cap an impressive personal display by escaping the attentions of both Bart Vriends and Sanusi with a deft step over before beating Huth with a low drive from just inside the area to secure all three points for the hosts four minutes from time.

Elsewhere, an error from Lucas Woudenberg led to Mike van Duinen putting away-day specialists, Excelsior into what would ultimately prove to be an unassailable lead ten minutes before the break in their encounter with Heerenveen to earn Mitchell van der Gaag’s troops back-to-back league victories for the first time since early November.

However, things might have been very different had Reza Ghoochannejhad’s 8^th minute effort found the back of the net instead of striking Theo Zwarthoed’s right hand upright before the visiting ‘keeper was forced to palm a rasping Michel Vlap drive onto his other post shortly before the half hour mark.

At the same time, a 62^nd minute effort from Vincent Vermeij ultimately proved enough to see hosts, Heracles get back to winning ways against out-of-form PEC Zwolle.

With the home side having come within a whisker of breaking the deadlock when first, Brandley Kuwas saw his 21^st minute effort cannon back off Diederik Boer’s crossbar before Bram van Polen found himself in the right place at the right time to block a goal-bound effort from Vincent Vermeij seven minutes before the break seconds after Boer had been forced to palm a Kuwas corner onto his own bar, it came as little surprise when John Stegeman’s side finally took the lead when Kristoffer Peterson ghosted in at the back post to nod home a pinpoint cross from the impressive Kuwas in the 42^nd minute.

However, despite Kuwas then striking the foot of Boer’s left hand upright direct from another corner seconds before the interval, the host’s lead would only last until five minutes into the second half when Younes Namli capped a swift counter attack by slipping in Piotr Parzyszek who restored parity for the visitors by squeezing the ball between an onrushing Bram Castro and the home ‘keeper’s left hand upright.

Yet the home side weren’t to be denied and, having seen Peterson stumble in an attempt to convert a low cross from Roland Baas on the edge of the box, the in-form Vermeij was quick to gobble up the loose ball and seal all three points for the hosts with his fourth goal in his last six outings.

The host’s margin of victory might have been even greater had the Manchester City-bound Phillippe Sandler not been on hand to slide the ball back into the grateful arms of Boer after the visiting ‘keeper’s initial block had only served to slow the progress of Kuwas’ goal-bound effort four minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at De Koel where visiting, Vitesse Arnhem came back from two-down to snatch a point from their encounter with VVV Venlo.

The points appeared to be going the host’s way early on when, with Torino Hunte having already put the home side into the ascendency with a well taken half volley with just ten minutes on the clock, Lennart Thy was on hand to double his side’s advantage with a speculative effort that took a wicked bounce which caught out Remko Pasveer in the visitor’s net twelve minutes later.

However, just when it appeared that the away side were heading for a second straight defeat, Henk Fraser’s men were handed a way back into the game when, in an attempt to clear his lines, the unlucky Nils Röseler only succeeded in diverting a low Thomas Bruns cross into his own net just five minutes later.

Buoyed by the German’s misfortune, the away side would emerge for the second half with an added spring in their step and ultimately secure a share of the spoils when Lars Unnerstall inexplicably allowed a Mason Mount free kick to slip through his fingers three minutes after the restart.

Sunday’s action began at the Johan Cruijff ArenA where Ajax’s title hopes were dealt a potentially fatal blow after Erik ten Hag’s men were held to a goalless draw by visiting ADO Den Haag.

Things might have been different for the hosts had makeshift striker, Siem de Jong found the back of the net instead of heading a Donny van de Beek cross against Robert Zwinkels’ right hand upright or the resultant rebound fallen to someone in an Ajax shirt instead of somewhat fortuitously hitting the visiting ‘keeper’s head as he lay on the line twenty minutes into the second half and Hakim Ziyech found the target instead of curling an 88^th minute free kick onto the outside of the same post.

If they hadn’t already realised it beforehand, when David Neres saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by a covering Donny Gorter in the third minute of added time the hosts knew it wasn’t going to be their day.

Table-topping PSV Eindhoven took full advantage of Ajax’s failure to secure all three points by hitting reigning champions, Feyenoord for three at De Kuip to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the standings.

The visitors wasted little time in asserting their authority over a Feyenoord side who came into this encounter an incredible twenty points off the pace set by Phillip Cocu’s men at the top of the standings, taking the lead when an untracked Santiago Arias stooped low to glance a Steven Bergwijn cross past a static Brad Jones with twenty-three minutes on the clock.

The away side would double their advantage just twelve minutes later when Bart Nieuwkoop failed to cut out an incisive through-ball from Gaston Pereiro, allowing Bergwijn to streak clear and slip the ball past an exposed Jones.

With the chance of retaining their title now long gone, the hosts might have been forgiven for turning their attention to Wednesday night’s KNVB Beker semi-final tie with Willem II. However, when half time replacement, Jean-Paul Boëtius hit the by-line and cut the ball back for Tonny Vilhena to head the ball beyond a static Jeroen Zoet eight minutes into the second half, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men found themselves right back in the game.

Yet, any hopes the home side may have harboured of replicating their recent cup success over the men from Eindhoven were effectively ended just five minutes later when Pereiro found himself in the right place at the right time to restore the visitor’s two-goal cushion, the Uruguayan stabbing the ball into an unguarded net from the edge of the box after Jones had found Bergwijn’s initial effort too hot to handle.

Elsewhere, a 14^th minute strike from AZ Alkmaar loanee, Ben Rienstra ultimately proved just enough to see Willem II move six points clear of the bottom three after edging out fellow strugglers, Roda JC at the Koning Willem II Stadion.

The twenty fifth round of action was concluded at the Stadion Galgenwaard where in-form FC Utrecht climbed into the top four by claiming a fourth-straight victory after coming from behind to hit struggling FC Twente for three.

Despite coming into this encounter four points from safety, it was the away side who struck first when Danny Holla sent Haris Vučkić clear to claim his fourth goal of the campaign in all competitions with just ten minutes on the clock.

The visitors might have doubled their advantage twelve minutes later but the Slovenian somehow contrived to send an Adam Maher cut-back sailing over the bar when presented with an open goal.

Despite the host’s slow start, normal service was resumed a minute into added time at the end of the first half when Sean Klaiber clawed the home side back on level terms by curling the ball delightfully into the top right hand corner of Joel Drommel’s net.

With Jean-Paul de Jong yet to taste defeat since taking up the reins from Erik ten Hag over the winter break and his side riding a three-game winning streak ahead of this encounter, it came as little surprise when the in-form hosts edged themselves ahead – a deft flick from Cyriel Dessers sending Sander van de Streek away to beat an onrushing Drommel and claim his third goal in his last two outings, twenty-two minutes into the second half.

Any hopes Gertjan Verbeek’s side, who face AZ Alkmaar on Wednesday evening for a place in the final of the KNVB Beker, may have harboured of taking anything from the game were effectively ended ten minutes later when van de Streek capped his second outstanding performance in as many weeks by playing a neat give and go with Yassin Ayoub which resulted in the Moroccan rifling home the host’s third from mid-way inside the visitor’s area.

Results: Week 25

FC Groningen 1-1 NAC Breda

AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam

SC Heerenveen 0-1 Excelsior

Heracles Almelo 2-1 PEC Zwolle

VVV Venlo 2-2 Vitesse Arnhem

AFC Ajax 0-0 ADO Den Haag

Feyenoord 1-3 PSV Eindhoven

Willem II 1-0 Roda JC

FC Utrecht 3-1 FC Twente

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The season’s second round of midweek fixtures got underway on Tuesday evening at the MAC3PARK Stadion where hosts, PEC Zwolle withstood a late comeback from in-form Heerenveen to claim all three points in a five-goal thriller.

Despite having shipped eight goals in their last two outings in all competitions, the home side got off to a perfect start when Wouter Marinus stooped low to head home a Youness Mokhtar cross in the 23^rd minute and things would get even better for the hosts just five minutes later when Mokhtar picked out the run of Younes Namli with a perfectly weighted ball that left the visitor’s rear guard powerless to prevent the 23-year-old streaking clear and rounding an exposed Martin Hansen to double his side’s advantage.

However, having taken seven points from the last nine, the visitors weren’t about to roll over and clawed themselves back into the match in the 69^th minute when Arber Zeneli cut in from the left and picked out an untracked Denzel Dumfries for the full back to bag his second goal in his last three outings.

Yet, any hopes the away side may have harboured of making a comeback looked to have been dashed four minutes later when Mustafa Saymak caught Hansen out at his near post with a deceptive drive seconds after the visiting ‘keeper had hared off his line to deny the tricky Mokhtar, who had found himself one-on-one with Heerenveen’s Danish stopper after turning Daniel Høegh inside out following some poor control from Dumfries just outside the area.

Although the hosts would ultimately hold on to snap a three-game losing streak and reclaim fourth place in the standings from Feyenoord ahead of the rest of the mid-week fixtures, a marauding Dumfries would ensure a tense finish and make amends for his earlier error by hitting the by-line and pulling the ball back for an unmarked Reza Ghoochannejhad to reduce the arrears for the visitors ten minutes from time.

Wednesday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Stadion Galgenwaard where an 85^th minute effort from super-sub, Lukas Görtler – just two minutes after the German forward had been brought on to replace Gyrano Kerk, handed Jean-Paul de Jong his first victory since succeeding Erik ten Hag as coach of FC Utrecht at the expense of rock-bottom Sparta Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, with closest challengers, Ajax not playing until later in the night, a 17^th minute effort from Hirving Lozano, following a deft back-heel from Luuk de Jong, ultimately proved enough to see PSV Eindhoven past a determined Excelsior to open up a ten-point lead at the top of the standings.

Having weathered an early onslaught by the visitors who had been unlucky not to have taken the lead when Mike van Duinen saw his close-range effort come back off Jeroen Zoet’s crossbar with just six minutes on the clock, the host’s margin of victory might have been greater had Jurgen Mattheij not been in the right place at the right time to block a goal-bound header from Steven Bergwijn on the line eleven minutes before the break.

Elsewhere, in-form AZ Alkmaar recorded their fifth win from their last seven outings in all competitions by hitting an undermanned FC Twente for four at De Grolsch Veste.

However, the visitor’s eventual margin of victory was somewhat misleading as despite taking a tenth minute lead when Iranian international, Alireza Jahanbakhsh converted from the spot shortly after Haris Vučkić had sent Guus Til tumbling in the area, the game could have gone either way until Cristian Cuevas’ was given his marching orders in the 72^nd minute by referee, Siemen Mulder after picking up his second caution of the match following a rash challenge on Joris van Overeem.

Despite coming within a whisker of restoring parity when Jonas Svensson cleared a goal-bound effort by Vučkić off the line three minutes before the 22-year-old’s sending off, the visitor’s numerical advantage ultimately told late on when, having already doubled the away side’s advantage in the 89^th minute, Wout Weghorst curled his second of the night into the top left hand corner of Joel Drommel’s net a minute into added time before Mats Seuntjens set Jahanbakhsh away to claim his second of the game two minutes later.

In one of the night’s late kick-off’s, Willem II hit VVV Venlo for three to move four points clear of the bottom three.

Despite snatching a famous victory late-on against reigning Eredivisie champions, Feyenoord on Sunday afternoon, VVV were never really in the running in Tilburg and would find themselves a goal down when Bartholomew Ogbeche handed the hosts the lead a minute before the break – the Nigerian stabbing the ball home from close range to claim his tenth of the campaign in all competitions seconds after Damian van Bruggen had sparked a goal-mouth scramble by blocking Jordy Croux’s goal-bound effort on the line and Fran Sol had seen his attempted follow-up strike Lars Unnerstall’s right hand upright.

Buoyed by the 33-year-old’s opener, the home side would emerge for the second half with an added spring in their step and would double their advantage four minutes after the resumption when Ben Rienstra claimed his sixth of the season in all competitions with a low drive from just outside the area before Croux punished Unnerstall for failing to field his corner in spectacular fashion by slamming the ball into an unguarded net from wide on the right in the 53^rd minute.

At the same time, there were remarkable scenes at the Rat Verlegh Stadion where struggling NAC Breda hit an undermanned Heracles for six to move three points clear of the bottom three.

Despite coming into this encounter with just one win in their last seven outings, it took the hosts just four minutes to open the scoring when an unmarked Rai Vloet stole in at the back post to volley home an Angelino cross and claim his fifth of the campaign in all competitions.

Indeed, there was little indication of the remarkable scenes that would later unfold when Vincent Vermeij restored parity for the visitors by stabbing home a Roland Baas cross from close range just nine minutes later.

However, having taken just five minutes to restore their advantage when Thierry Ambrose drilled the ball home after a poor punch from Bram Castro had sparked bedlam in the away side’s area following a Manu Garcia corner from the left, the home side would extend their lead five minutes into the second half when, having capitalised on some loose play from Dries Wuytens just inside the home side’s half, Garcia would sprint half the length of the field and leave a number of would-be challengers trailing in his wake before poking home the host’s third from just outside the box.

Any hopes the visitors may have harboured of staging a comeback were dispelled sixteen minutes from time when Tim Breukers was given his marching orders by referee, Kevin Blom after picking up his second caution of the match following a rash lunge on Garcia.

It would take the home side just four minutes to make their numerical advantage count when Mounir El Allouchi picked out an unmarked Mitchell te Vrede on the edge of the box to slide number four past an exposed Castro as the visitor’s looked in vain for a flag which never came.

Having teed up the home side’s fourth, following a nice give-and-go with freshly recruited Roma loanee, Umar Sadiq, who had only been on the field for two minutes, El Allouchi would cap a mazy run by increasing the home side’s advantage three minutes later.

Not content with merely registering an assist on his debut, the Nigerian forward would put the seal on a remarkable performance by Stijn Vreven’s side by posting his first goal in NAC colours after being sent clear by an incisive through ball from Ambrose just two minutes later.

There was little to cheer for another struggling side however as Ajax came from a goal down to hit Roda JC for four at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

With the game just two minutes old, the hosts were gifted the perfect start when Andre Onana palmed a Mikhail Rosheuvel cross into the path of Feyenoord loanee, Simon Gustafson, whose shot just about crossed the line before the intervention of a covering Frenkie de Jong.

However, just nine minutes later, the visitors would claw themselves back onto level terms when a marauding Nicolas Tagliafico cut the ball back for Donny van de Beek to poke home his eleventh of the campaign in all competitions before a spectacular 24^th minute drive from well outside the area by Hakim Ziyech put the away side into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Erik ten Hag’s men would extend their lead further sixteen minutes from time when van de Beek slipped Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in behind the home defence with an incisive through ball for the former Dutch international to round Hidde Jurjus and claim his ninth of the season.

However, just when it appeared as though the points were heading back to Amsterdam, a slip by Frenkie de Jong allowed Maecky Ngombo to hit the by-line and cut the ball back for second half substitute, Jorn Vancamp to side-foot home his third goal in his last four appearances in all competitions ten minutes from time.

Yet, any hopes the home side may have harboured of snatching a late share of the spoils were dispelled just two minutes later when Tagliafico capped another raid into the home side’s area by picking out an unmarked Huntelaar for the 34-year-old to stroke home his second of the night from just outside the box.

Thursday’s Eredivisie action began with ADO Den Haag narrowly edging out fellow European hopefuls, Vitesse Arnhem to move within three points of their guests (who currently occupy the last of the UEFA Europa League play-off places) after a swift counter attack, set in motion by the vision of Abdenasser El Khayati, was capped off by a streaking Sheraldo Becker nine minutes into the second half at the Cars Jeans Stadion.

The twenty second round of action was concluded at De Kuip where three second half goals saw reigning champions, Feyenoord get back to winning ways at the expense of visiting, FC Groningen.

Despite the eventual result it was the visitors who would come closest to breaking the deadlock in a goalless opening period when a Yoell van Nieff free kick cannoned back off Brad Jones’ crossbar with just three minutes on the clock.

However, having failed to record a victory since Christmas Eve, when an untracked Jens Toornstra ghosted in at the back post and volleyed home a perfectly weighted cross from first half replacement, Bilal Başaçıkoğlu to open the scoring for the hosts eight minutes into the second half, Ernest Faber’s troops never really looked like getting back into the game and when Steven Berghuis slipped in a marauding Jeremiah St. Juste to double the home side’s advantage eighteen minutes from time any hopes the visitors may have harboured of mounting a comeback began to fade.

Having been restricted to late cameo appearances since his return to Rotterdam at the end of January, it took Robin van Persie a matter of seconds to make his presence felt when, just seconds after replacing Jens Toornstra in the 78^th minute, a neat give and go with Berghuis allowed the 34-year-old to evade the attentions of van Nieff and curl the ball beyond the reach of Sergio Padt to notch his first Eredivisie goal since re-signing for the club thirteen years and three hundred and fifty-eight days after his last strike in the Dutch top flight.

Results: Week 22

PEC Zwolle 3-2 SC Heerenveen

FC Utrecht 1-0 Sparta Rotterdam

PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Excelsior

FC Twente 0-4 AZ Alkmaar

Willem II 3-0 VVV Venlo

NAC Breda 6-1 Heracles Almelo

Roda JC 2-4 AFC Ajax

ADO Den Haag 1-0 Vitesse Arnhem

Feyenoord 3-0 FC Groningen

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The twenty first round of action in the Dutch top flight got underway on Friday evening at the GelreDome where first half goals from Chelsea loanees, Matt Miazga and Mason Mount saw European hopefuls, Vitesse Arnhem claim victory in their encounter with FC Groningen.

Having taken just six minutes to break the deadlock when an untracked Matt Miazga rose highest on the edge of the box to nod home a Lassana Faye cross, the hosts would double their advantage and ultimately wrap up the points thirteen minutes before the break when a low ball from Mitchell van Bergen was beautifully left by Tim Matavz, allowing another man on loan from Stamford Bridge, Mason Mount, to steal a march on the visitor’s wrong-footed backline and claim his fourth goal in his last six games.

The host’s margin of victory might have been even greater were it not for the intervention of first half replacement, Juninho Bacuna, who found himself in the right place at the right time to deny first, Guram Kashia and then a point-blank header from Miazga on the line following a Thomas Bruns corner from the left a minute before the break.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Friesland where a 66^th minute header from Daniel Høegh ultimately proved enough to earn another side hoping to secure European football at the end of the season – Heerenveen, all three points against struggling FC Twente.

Elsewhere, hat-trick hero, Luuk de Jong was the star of the show as PSV Eindhoven hit an undermanned PEC Zwolle for four to move ten points clear at the top of the table ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

The turning point of the match arrived when Mickey van der Hart – who had been given the nod in the absence of a suspended Diederik Boer, who was given his marching orders in Tuesday’s KNVB Beker quarter final loss at AZ Alkmaar, was sent off by referee, Serdar Gözübüyük after the visiting ‘keeper had sent Hirving Lozano tumbling after haring out of his area to intercept the Mexican international three minutes before the break

It wouldn’t take long for the hosts to make their numerical advantage count – Luuk de Jong rising highest at the back post to nod home a Lozano corner in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half.

Phillip Cocu’s side, who saw their chances of securing a league and cup double dashed by defeat at the hands of Feyenoord in their quarter final tie on Wednesday evening, would double their advantage in the 65^th minute when, having drawn the attentions of stand-in stopper, Mike Hauptmeijer, Lozano picked out the head of an unmarked de Jong for the Dutch international to nod just his eighth of the campaign in all competitions into an unguarded net.

Having set up both goals, Lozano then came within a whisker of making it three when his effort came back off the foot of Hauptmeijer’s right hand upright just two minutes later.

However, Lozano’s miss ultimately proved to be just a temporary reprieve for John van ‘t Schip’s beleaguered side who fell further behind eighteen minutes from time when de Jong stabbed home a Joshua Brenet cross from the edge of the box to claim his hat-trick.

Having teed up the host’s third, Brenet then helped himself to number four when substitute, Albert Gudmundsson, who had only been on the field a minute after replacing Steven Bergwijn, set the host’s marauding left back away to claim his first of the season in all competitions twelve minutes from time to condemn the visitors to a second four-goal defeat in as many games while extending PSV’s lead at the top of the table to ten points ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Almelo where two sides with designs on crashing the end-of-season UEFA Europa League play-off party shared the spoils.

Having already come close to breaking the deadlock when Lex Immers saw his low drive come back off the foot of Bram Castro’s left hand upright with just three minutes on the clock following an Abdenasser El Khayati corner from the right, the away side would hit the front when a misdirected clearance from Jamiro Monteiro sent Bjørn Johnsen away to fire ADO Den Haag ahead with a thunderous strike from just inside the area that crashed in off the underside of Castro’s crossbar with twenty one minutes on the clock.

However, despite winning three of their last six, Alfons Groenendijk’s side failed to build on their early advantage and would ultimately have to settle for a point against a Heracles outfit whose point last time out in Groningen ended a run of three-straight defeats in all competitions, when Reuven Niemeijer clawed the out-of-form hosts back onto level terms – the 22-year-old picking out the top right hand corner of Robert Zwinkels’ net from just inside the area, nine minutes into the second half.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion where a 77^th minute effort from Hicham Faik earned Excelsior a share of the spoils against visiting, FC Utrecht.

Things had begun brightly for the hosts who took the lead in the 22^nd minute when Stanley Elbers slid an intended last-ditch clearance from Giovanni Troupee into the back of an unguarded net after David Jensen had hared off his line to meet an onrushing Mike van Duinen.

However, just three minutes later Zakaria Labyad picked out the head of an unmarked Mark van der Maarel at the back post to restore parity and the points appeared to be going the way of Jean-Paul de Jong’s side when Labyad edged the visitors ahead with a well-placed free kick from just outside the area seventeen minutes from time.

However, the away side’s advantage would prove to be short-lived when Hicham Faik turned Rico Strieder inside out and unleashed an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area that left Jensen grasping at thin air to claim a share of the spoils for Mitchell van der Gaag’s men just four minutes later.

Elsewhere, a late Clint Leemans spot kick saw VVV Venlo snatch a memorable victory over reigning champions, Feyenoord.

The game had seemingly been destined to end goalless until Renato Tapia found himself with little choice but to send second half substitute, Romeo Castelen tumbling in the area as the former Feyenoord man bore down on Brad Jones’ net leaving Clint Leemans to send the Australian the wrong way from the resultant penalty kick and bag a famous victory for the hosts two minutes from time.

At the same time, a poorly judged back-pass by Giliano Wijnaldum allowed Fred Friday to steal in and grab a 23^rd minute lead that ultimately proved enough to see Sparta Rotterdam edge past fellow strugglers, Willem II to post their first victory under the stewardship of Dick Advocaat and end a run of ten games without a win.

The host’s margin of victory could have been more emphatic had Sander Fischer’s 63^rd minute header found the back of the net instead of striking the foot of Mattijs Branderhorst’s left hand upright.

Meanwhile, a 71^st minute effort from Borussia Mönchengladbach loanee, Tsiy William Ndenge saw another side struggling at the wrong end of the table – Roda JC, snatch an unlikely point from their encounter with in-form AZ Alkmaar.

Having won four of their last five in all competitions it came as little surprise when the home side edged themselves ahead just before the quarter hour when the unlucky Patrick Banggaard, who was making his debut for the Kerkrade-based outfit after arriving on loan from Darmstadt during the January transfer window, diverted a low Thomas Ouwejan cross into his own net.

However, the host’s lead would last just eight minutes when a Dani Schahin flick-on allowed Jorn Vancamp, who only opened his account for the season a week earlier in Roda’s victory over Excelsior, to escape the attentions of Pantelis Hatzidiakos and bag his second goal of the campaign with a thunderous strike from just inside the area.

Despite finding themselves pegged back the home side would edge themselves ahead once more when Fredrik Midtsjø left Hidde Jurjus rooted to the spot with a spectacular effort from well outside the area nine minutes before the break.

Yet the hosts would ultimately be denied a third-straight victory in all competitions when a low drive from Tsiy William Ndenge marginally crossed the line after hitting the inside of Marco Bizot’s right hand upright nineteen minutes from time.

The twenty first round of action was concluded at the Johan Cruijff ArenA where Ajax got back to winning ways by coming from behind to hit an undermanned NAC Breda for three.

Despite hitting the same opposition for eight without replay when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at the Rat Verlegh Stadion in mid-November, a shock appeared to be on the cards early on when Thierry Ambrose lashed a deflected knock-down from Lucas Schoofs past Andre Onana from the edge of the area with just six minutes on the clock.

However, the visitor’s advantage would last just nineteen minutes when Justin Kluivert, having turned Arno Verschueren inside out, picked out the head of an unmarked Donny van de Beek on the edge of the box before a fine solo effort from David Neres saw the hosts complete the turnaround six minutes before the break – the Brazilian capitalising on a wayward pass from Manu Garcia, gliding past Pablo Mari and holding off the attentions of first, Garcia and then Bart Meijers before beating the visitor’s Australian ‘keeper with a low drive from just outside the area.

Despite taking the lead the home side would make heavy weather of killing the game off until a rash lunge from the already booked Meijers on Hakim Ziyech resulted in the centre half being given his marching orders by referee, Ed Janssen in the first minute of added time before Ziyech curled the resultant free kick past an unsighted Birighitti from just outside the area a minute later to reduce PSV’s advantage at the top of the table to seven points ahead of the season’s second round of midweek fixtures.

Results: Week 21

Vitesse Arnhem 2-0 FC Groningen

SC Heerenveen 1-0 FC Twente

PSV Eindhoven 4-0 PEC Zwolle

Heracles Almelo 1-1 ADO Den Haag

Excelsior 2-2 FC Utrecht

VVV Venlo 1-0 Feyenoord

Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 Willem II

AZ Alkmaar 2-2 Roda JC

AFC Ajax 3-1 NAC Breda

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