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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The twentieth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening in Tilburg where hosts Willem II left it late before shading out visitors, Sparta Rotterdam in an enthralling five-goal contest.

Erwin van de Looi’s men came into this encounter in search of not only their first points of the New Year after suffering successive defeats since the resumption of play in the Netherlands following the winter break, but also their first goal and, when the drought finally came to an end eighteen minutes into the match it was their top scorer, Spanish marksman, Fran Sol who headed the hosts into the ascendancy with his eighth of the campaign.

Fresh from squeezing past second tier outfit, Volendam in the quarter finals of the KNVB Beker, Alex Pastoor’s men looked progressively weary as the game wore on having been taken to extra time and penalties on Tuesday evening before eventually booking their place in the final four of the competition and almost fell further behind when Jordy Croux hit the bar shortly thereafter. But, having rode their luck, the visitors did find an equaliser three minutes after falling behind through Ajax loanee, Zakaria El Azzouzi only to see Darryl Lachman restore the hosts advantage on the stroke of half time.

The visitors clawed their way back onto level terms with twenty one minutes left to play through a well-placed free kick from Thomas Verhaar – who netted his second goal in as many games after also finding the back of the net on Tuesday evening, and looked to have secured a valuable point before substitute, Thom Haye popped up three minutes into added time to snatch all three points for the hosts.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action began at De Adelaarshorst where FC Utrecht put the embarrassment of their shock midweek cup exit at the hands of second tier outfit, SC Cambuur by taking all three points from their trip to Deventer.

Meanwhile, Go Ahead Eagles continue to find it difficult to gain traction at the wrong end of the table and slipped back to the foot of the Eredivisie standings when home centre half, Xandro Schenk inadvertently deflected Andreas Ludwig’s left wing cross into his own net just after the half hour mark.

Things went from bad to worse for Hans de Koning’s men as they chased in vain for an equaliser in the second half – Darren Maatsen being given his marching orders by referee, Edwin van de Graaf just after the hour mark following an altercation with visiting full back, Mark van der Maarel – who, despite having brought down the 25-year-old substitute in clumsy fashion, only received a yellow card in turn from the official piling the pressure on de Koning whose side now lie three points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven continued to tenaciously hang on to the coattails of Ajax and league leaders, Feyenoord – taking all three points from a potentially tricky trip to Almelo.

However, PSV’s third straight victory of 2017 wasn’t all plain sailing for Phillip Cocu’s men who handed hosts, Heracles an early opportunity to take the lead when Samuel Armenteros was brought down in the area by a reckless challenge from PSV’s German centre half, Daniel Schwaab with just ten minutes on the clock – leaving referee, Kevin Blom to point to the spot from which the Swedish marksmen saw his effort saved by Dutch international, Jeroen Zoet.

Having ridden their luck in the early stages of the first half, it was the reigning champions who hit the front five minutes into the second – Andres Guardado slipping in Jetro Willems on the left whose pinpoint low cross found Bart Ramselaar hovering around the penalty spot with time and space to beat home ‘keeper, Bram Castro who, despite getting a hand to the 20-year-old forward’s effort, failed to prevent his side slipping behind.

Despite having seen his spot kick saved by Zoet in the early exchanges, Armenteros made amends sixteen minutes from time when the Swede finished a pinpoint right wing ball from Brandley Kuwas with a well taken left footed volley that left the PSV ‘keeper rooted to the spot.

But, it wasn’t enough to secure a point for John Stegeman’s side who slipped to their third straight defeat since the turn of the year when Davy Propper’s deflected effort from just outside the area deceived Castro three minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Kerkrade where struggling Roda JC claimed three vital points and climbed off the bottom of the table by hitting fellow strugglers Excelsior for four at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

Prior to this success, you had to go all the way back to the reverse fixture between the two sides in mid-October for the last victory to be posted by Yannis Anastasiou’s side whose cause was aided by the eighteenth minute dismissal of Jurgen Mattheij who was shown a straight red card by referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk for blocking Mitchel Paulissen when the Roda forward was put clean through on goal by virtue of the visiting centre half losing his footing.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s men were no sooner a man down than they found themselves a goal down as well – Dani Schahin the beneficiary of a well worked free kick routine from the resultant set piece as the 27-year-old German received a quick tap from Adil Auassar before breaking away unchecked by a static Excelsior rear guard to rifle the ball past Warner Hahn and give the cellar-dwellers the lead with nineteen minutes on the clock.

The hosts would go in at the break two goals to the good when Paulissen nodded home a perfectly weighted Mikhail Rosheuvel cross from the right at the back post to double their advantage in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Anastasiou’s men have struggled to find the back of the net all season and had notched just eight goals in the league coming into the encounter while shipping in twenty five in the process.

However, there was little evidence of the Kerkrade-based outfit’s goal scoring deficiencies here as the home side made it three through Greek forward, Athanasios Papazoglou who side-footed home a perfectly placed Abdul Ajagun cross from the right just after the hour mark before Paulissen made it four as the hosts ran riot three minutes later to round off an outstanding personal performance from the 23-year-old Dutchman and ultimately put the seal on a crucial victory in Roda’s battle to avoid the drop.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Abe Lenstra Stadion where the Derby van het Noorden between hosts, Heerenveen and local rivals, Groningen ended in an anti-climactic goalless draw.

Goals however, were not in short supply in Amsterdam where Ajax hit hapless ADO Den Haag for three as Peter Bosz’s men kept league leaders, Feyenoord in sight with their third straight league victory of 2017.

The hosts wasted little time in putting their struggling visitors to the sword – Kasper Dolberg putting Hakim Ziyech through on goal with a defence splitting pass on the edge of the visitor’s area allowing the Moroccan to slide the ball past the exposed Ernestas Setkus in the ADO net before the talented young Dane rattled Setkus’ right hand upright a couple of minutes later.

With Nick Viergever having tested the durability of the Lithuanian international’s crossbar just moments earlier, the Lancers eventually doubled their advantage eleven minutes before the break – Lasse Schone coming up with another contender for goal of the season for the second week in succession – converting a perfectly placed free kick from well outside the area.

The visitors – who were missing the attacking talents of both Gervane Kastaneer and Japaese international, Mike Havenaar, never looked like threatening to make a game of what became an extremely one-sided contest and should have conceded a third six minutes after half time but for the bar to once again come to the rescue of Zeljko Petrovic’s men- this time denying a superb bicycle kick from Dolberg.

But the Danish starlet wasn’t to be denied his goal and the 19-year-old finally got on the score sheet fourteen minutes from time – tapping in at the back post following a near post flick from home skipper, Davy Klaassen who beat Tom Trybull to a Ziyech corner from the left to round off a commanding display that took Peter Bosz’s side temporarily within two points of league leaders, Feyenoord ahead of their bitter rival’s meeting with NEC Nijmegen later on Sunday afternoon.

At the same time, Vitesse Arnhem followed up their cup success against Feyenoord on Thursday evening by seeing off fellow KNVB Beker semi-finalists, AZ Alkmaar at the GelreDome.

But it was the visitors who came out of the blocks first – Ben Rienstra rattling Eloy Room’s crossbar with just six minutes gone. However, instead of galvanising John van den Brom’s men it instead lit a fire under Henk Fraser’s charges who hit the front four minutes later – Chelsea loanee, Lewis Baker beating Sergio Rochet with a dipping drive from just outside the area with ten minutes on the clock.

If AZ’s Uruguayan stopper might have done better with Baker’s opener than he should certainly have prevented the host’s second – Baker’s fellow loanee from Stamford Bridge, Nathan capitalising on the visiting ‘keeper’s indecisiveness in dealing with a long bouncing ball out of defence from Guram Kashia to double the home side’s advantage six minutes after the resumption.

John van den Brom’s men did pull themselves back into the contest in the 64^th minute when Kashia inexplicably headed the ball into his own net from a yard out after a superb point-blank save from Room had denied substitute, Levi Garcia what had seemed a certain goal but Fraser’s side held on for a victory which maintained the Arnhem-based outfit’s push for a UEFA Europa League playoff place.

Elsewhere, ten-man FC Twente came away with all three points from their trip to relegation-threatened, PEC Zwolle.

Rene Hake’s men caught their hosts cold in the early stages – Dylan Seys’ deflected effort putting the visitors into the ascendancy with just eight minutes gone at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

But the hosts – buoyed by recording their first win of 2017 last time out against fellow strugglers, ADO Den Haag, were back on level terms just after the half hour mark – Ajax loanee, Queensy Menig firing home from just inside the area after being teed up by Kingsley Ehizibue.

However, despite Twente’s Manchester City loanee, Bersant Celina being given his marching orders by referee, Martin van den Kerkhof early in the second half, Ron Jans’ side failed to come away with anything to aid their battle against the drop – Oussama Assaidi capitalising on a poor clearance from Mickey van der Hart ten minutes into the second half to chip a perfectly placed lob over the Zwolle ‘keeper’s head and into the back of the net, bagging the undermanned visitor’s an unlikely away win.

The twentieth round of Eredivisie action was brought to a close at De Kuip where league leaders, Feyenoord responded to their advantage at the top of the standings having temporally been cut to two points by putting four past visiting, NEC Nijmegen to end the weekend with their five point lead intact.

Last year’s KNVB Beker winners – who suffered a shock cup exit at the hands of Vitesse Arnhem in midweek at the quarter final stage of this season’s competition, were quick to put the disappointment of Thursday evening behind them – Eljero Elia’s well-placed ball from the left finding Watford loanee, Steven Berghuis with time and space aplenty to slam a perfectly placed half volley past visiting ‘keeper, Joris Delle on the half hour mark.

The hosts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time thanks to a smart turn and finish from Elia who beat Delle from just inside the area with a low drive from his weaker right foot – despite having tweaked his hamstring just moments earlier, following a neat give-and-go between Feyenoord skipper, Dirk Kuyt and Nicolai Jorgensen.

The home side could and should have made it three with eighteen minutes to play but, despite being found unmarked in the box by a perfectly placed Bilal Basacikoglu cross from the right, Jens Toornstra’s headed effort came back off Delle’s crossbar.

However, it would ultimately prove to be only a temporary reprieve for Peter Hyballa’s men whose rear guard was breached twice in the final few minutes – substitute, Bart Nieuwkoop finding Jorgensen with a pinpoint pass to tee up a simple finish from point blank range for the Danish marksman as the visiting defence turned to dust three minutes from time before Feyenoord’s top scorer added his second of the evening and eighteenth in all competitions in the final seconds of normal time – tapping in from a few yards out after Delle had been beaten to the ball by the head of the ever-industrious Basacikoglu.

Results: Week 20

Willem II 3-2 Sparta Rotterdam

Go Ahead Eagles 0-1 FC Utrecht

Heracles 1-2 PSV Eindhoven

Roda JC 4-0 Excelsior

SC Heerenveen 0-0 FC Groningen

AFC Ajax 3-0 ADO Den Haag

Vitesse Arnhem 2-1 AZ Alkmaar

PEC Zwolle 1-2 FC Twente

Feyenoord 4-0 NEC Nijmegen

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The nineteenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at De Grolsch Veste where FC Twente came away with their first win of 2017 thanks to a lone Joachim Andersen strike just ten minutes into their local derby against Heracles.

The 20-year-old defender headed home a Bersant Celina cross from the right to snap the Tukkers’ two-game losing streak and condemn Twente’s local rivals to a second straight reversal since the turn of the year.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the AFAS Stadion where a late Mathias Pogba strike three minutes from time salvaged a point for Sparta Rotterdam.

Alex Pastoor’s side snapped a four-game losing streak that had seen last season’s Eerste Divisie champions slide towards the danger zone by denying AZ Alkmaar a third win in as many games after a Derrick Luckassen header from a Maumer Tankovic free kick nine minutes after the break had looked to have secured all three points for John van den Brom’s high flying side.

Title-chasing, Feyenoord made it five wins in their last five outings in all competitions by following up their victory at relegation-threatened, Roda by dispatching fellow strugglers, Willem II at De Kuip on Saturday evening.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the league leaders who came into this encounter five points clear of second placed, Ajax and had a lone Jens Toornstra header just after the half hour mark to thank for securing a fifth win in succession in all competitions for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

The home side found their former ‘keeper Kostas Lamprou in fine form throughout and should have doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Rick Karsdorp slipped in Eljero Elia who saw his well-weighted chip over the Greek ‘stopper wrongly ruled out by referee, Ed Janssen who adjudged that the forward was in an offside position when he received the ball.

Despite an encouraging performance by the visitors, the defeat left Erwin van de Looi’s men dangling precariously close to the bottom three with just two points separating the Tilburg-based outfit from 16^th placed PEC Zwolle.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, PEC Zwolle picked up a priceless three points at the expense of beleaguered, ADO Den Haag.

A second goal in as many games from Birmingham City loanee, Nicolai Brock-Madsen eleven minutes after the restart at the Kyocera Stadion ultimately secured a first victory for Ron Jans’ side since a derby day triumph over Go Ahead Eagles at the end of October.

Zeljko Petrovic’s side are yet to record a point in 2017 and despite Gervane Kastaneer having headed the hosts into the ascendancy just ten minutes into this relegation six pointer, Kingsley Ehizibue levelled for the visitors seven minutes before the interval before Brock-Madsen completed the away side’s come-from-behind victory to leave the men from The Hague precariously placed in 15^th place, just ahead of Zwolle by virtue of goal difference.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the Noordlease Stadion where it ended honours even between FC Groningen and ten-man Vitesse Arnhem.

Having pounced four minutes into the second half to cancel out Kelvin Leerdam’s early own goal, Navarone Foor would later see red when referee, Jeroen Manschot gave the 24-year-old his marching orders four minutes from time following a reckless challenge on Juninho Bacuna.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Stadion Galgenwaard where a stunning volley from Lasse Schone seven minutes from time kept Ajax in touch with Feyenoord at the top of the standings following a narrow victory over FC Utrecht.

With both sides having struck the bar in a goalless first half, the 30-year-old made amends with his spectacular strike after having squandered a spot-kick just after the hour mark. Having cut inside, Amin Younes’ cross had hit the arm of Nacer Barazite inside the host’s area – leading referee, Bjorn Kuipers to award the visitors a penalty which the Dane then fired over the bar.

The narrow victory secured Ajax’s first win in Utrecht since 2009 and kept Peter Bosz’s side five points off the pace set by their bitter rivals from Rotterdam.

NEC Nijmegen extended their recent unbeaten run to four games by seeing off the challenge of struggling, Roda JC at the Goffertstadion on Sunday afternoon.

Gregor Breinburg had put the hosts into the ascendancy from the spot with just seven minutes on the clock after Mohamed Rayhi had been felled in the box by Daryl Werker before the 25-year-old repeated the trick by doubling the home side’s advantage with a second penalty kick eleven minutes into the second half when Roda replacement, Frederic Ananou brought down Ferdi Kadioglu.

With the victory, Peter Hyballa’s men moved within two points of the UEFA Europa League playoff places. For Roda, the defeat consigned Yannis Anastasiou’s men to the foot of the table by virtue of goal difference.

Elsewhere, Go Ahead Eagles climbed off the foot of the table at Roda’s expense – securing just a third away point of the season from their trip to the Stadion Woudestein.

Liverpool loanee, Pedro Chirivella had headed Hans de Koning’s strugglers into the ascendancy nine minutes into this relegation six-pointer before Nigel Hasselbaink levelled for Excelsior just before the half hour mark – tapping in at the far post following a Kevin Vermeuelen cross from the right.

The nineteenth round of Eredivisie action was concluded at the Philips Stadion where a last minute strike by Hector Moreno secured an unlikely victory in a seven-goal thriller for back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven over high flying, Heerenveen.

Iranian international, Reza Ghoochannejhad had stunned the home crowd by firing Jurgen Streppel’s men into the lead with just five minutes on the clock before Davy Propper levelled for the hosts just after the half hour mark.

Phillip Cocu’s side went into the interval with their noses in front when Gaston Pereiro nodded home Luuk de Jong’s goal-ward header from close range just eight minutes later.

However, the home side’s lead was short-lived – Ghoochannejhad slamming the ball past Jeroen Zoet following a deceptive reverse pass by Arber Zeneli to tie the game up at two apiece nine minutes into the second half.

The hosts had an opportunity to take the lead with a quarter of an hour left to play when Luuk de Jong was brought down in the box by Doke Schmidt having found himself goal-side of his marker with only Heerenveen ‘stopper, Erwin Mulder to beat leaving referee, Bas Nijhuis little choice but to point to the spot. However, Pereiro saw the resultant spot-kick saved by the former Feyenoord ‘keeper to leave the game in the balance until ten minutes from time when Ghoochannejhad headed home a Sam Larsson corner at the back post to complete his hat-trick.

Despite being seemingly odds-on for all three, ultimately, Streppel’s men wouldn’t even leave Eindhoven with a point as first, Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel levelled the scores with just a minute left to play before Mexican centre half, Moreno got a crucial touch to a free kick from the right in the last minute to keep the reigning champions’ title hopes alive.

Results: Week 19

FC Twente 1-0 Heracles

AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam

ADO Den Haag 1-2 PEC Zwolle

Feyenoord 1-0 Willem II

FC Groningen 1-1 Vitesse Arnhem

FC Utrecht 0-1 AFC Ajax

NEC Nijmegen 2-0 Roda JC

Excelsior 1-1 Go Ahead Eagles

PSV Eindhoven 4-3 SC Heerenveen

 

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Following the four-week winter break, the Eredivisie resumed with the eighteenth round of fixtures kicking off on Friday evening at De Adelaarshorst in Deventer where bottom-placed Go Ahead Eagles played host to high-flying, AZ Alkmaar.

Having taken just a single point from their previous five outings, it has already been a busy transfer window for Han de Koning’s strugglers, who welcomed the arrival of former Feyenoord forward, Elvis Manu on loan from Brighton in addition to the capture of 19-year-old’s, Pedro Chirivella Burgos and Daniel Crowley on a similar basis from Liverpool and Arsenal respectively.

The fact that all three are forward thinking players clearly illustrates the deficiencies in de Koning’s goal-shy squad and two of the three new arrivals – Manu and Chirivella went straight into the starting eleven as the hosts looked to begin the New Year on the right foot.

However, despite encouraging signs from Manu in particular for the home side during the early exchanges it was John van den Brom’s visitors who looked the most dangerous in a goalless first period and the Eagles were lucky not to go in at the break a goal down when Xandro Schenk appeared to clearly handle the ball in the host’s area while staving off the attentions of Robert Muhren mid-way through the first half – only for referee, Danny Makkelie to wave away the visitor’s protests.

Following a relatively uneventful first period, the game really came to life in the latter stages of the second stanza when Wout Weghorst drew the ire of the partisan home crowd by firing the visitors ahead in the 69^th minute after Alireza Jahanbakhsh found the former Heracles hitman in acres of space and, in the opinion of de Koning, in an offside position before the club’s top scorer raced unopposed into the box and wrong-footed Theo Zwarthoed – beating the home ‘keeper at his near post.

However, de Koning could have little complaint about their second – Jahanbakhsh crashing the ball past Zwarthoed from well outside the area to double the visitor’s advantage with five minutes to play following a driving run after the Iranian international had picked up the ball from Stijn Wuytens just inside the host’s half.

With all three points seemingly in the bag, the game then took an unusual turn three minutes later when, following a seemingly routine catch by visiting ‘keeper, Sergio Rochet following a long throw by substitute, Darren Maatsen referee, Makkelie pointed to the spot after having spotted Matthias Johansson push another substitute, Randy Wolters in the back off the ball – leaving Jarchinio Antonia to reduce the arrears for the hosts from the spot with his second goal in as many games.

After having been seeming down and out just moments before, the home side set about chasing an unlikely point as the game entered added time. However, it was the away side who would find the fourth goal of an enthralling contest when substitute, Dabney Dos Santos was brought down in the area by Antonia in the second additional minute leaving Jahanbakhsh to dispatch the resultant spot kick past Zwarthoed who then lead the home side’s protests after a second ball was thrown onto the field directly into the line of the ‘keeper’s vision as the penalty was taken. But it was all to no avail as Makkelie blew the final whistle shortly thereafter leaving the Eagles luckless on Friday the 13^th and rooted to the bottom of the table.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Abe Lenstra Stadion where Heerenveen kept up the pressure on the ‘big three’ by seeing off the meagre challenge of free-falling ADO Den Haag –who came into this match having lost five of their last six in all competitions.

A quick-fire double from Iranian international, Reza Ghoochannejhad just after the hour mark ensured all three points for the hosts who also unveiled the coup of the January transfer window when Jurgen Streppel gave Real Madrid’s Norwegian wonder kid, Martin Ødegaard his Heerenveen bow in the 89^th minute replacing Arber Zeneli – the 18-year-old having joined the club on loan until the end of next season.

With just one loss in their last six games, Groningen picked up where they left off by surprisingly hitting Heracles for four at the Polman Stadion on Saturday evening.

Three goals in nine minutes just after the half hour mark effectively sealed all three points for Ernest Faber’s men with 21-year-old Norwegian marksman, Alexander Sorloth adding to earlier strikes from Mimoun Mahi and Desevio Payne in the 39^th minute before Mahi made it four three minutes from time with his second of the game. Daryl van Mieghem’s spectacular last minute strike proved little more than a consolation for John Stegeman’s side.

Elsewhere, in what was just their sixth home win in 13 games in all competitions this season, back-to-back champions, PSV Eindhoven got the New Year off to a winning start by dispatching Excelsior at the Philips Stadion.

With Warner Hahn’s crossbar still reverberating from a Bart Ramselaar effort just seconds earlier, Davy Propper’s incisive pass from just outside the area, despite the attempted intervention of Excelsior full back, Khalid Karami, found the feet of Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel who, having recently returned to Eindhoven in the hope of repeating the unlikely title success that rounded off his previous loan spell with Phillip Cocu’s side at the back end of last season, beat the on-loan Feyenoord keeper from close range to put the hosts into the ascendancy with 34 minutes gone.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession and chances, the home side would have to wait until just before the hour mark to double their advantage – quick thinking from Jeroen Zoet releasing Andres Guardado on the left whose pinpoint diagonal ball found Davy Propper with time and space aplenty to beat the onrushing Hahn and seal all three points to keep the top two within reach for Phillip Cocu’s men.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at Het Kasteel where Erik ten Hag celebrated his recent contract extension by watching his Utrecht side snatch all three points in the dying moments of their encounter with Sparta Rotterdam.

With just one win in their last six outings in all competitions, Alex Pastoor could be forgiven for looking anxiously over his shoulder as his newly promoted side have found the going tough of late after making a flying start upon their return to the top flight of Dutch football at the start of the season and, despite 21-year-old Spanish forward, Ivan Calero handing the hosts the lead with 26 minutes on the clock, second half strikes from first, Willem Janssen seven minutes after the resumption and then 22-year-old Swedish midfielder, Kristoffer Peterson two minutes from time saw the hosts extend that unwanted run of poor form to one win in seven.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action kicked off at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion in Kerkrade where league leaders, Feyenoord temporally extended their advantage at the top of the standings to eight points following victory over relegation-threatened, Roda JC.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men who were lucky not to go in at the break a goal down when Roda skipper, Tom van Hyfte got free at the back post and connected with an Adil Auassar free kick from the right only to see his attempt rattle the crossbar with Feyenoord’s Aussie stopper, Brad Jones beaten.

Despite being lucky to still be on level terms at the interval, the ‘winter champions’ emerged with renewed vigour in the second stanza and took the lead in the 69^th minute when a perfectly weighted cross from the right by Watford loanee, Steven Berghuis found Nicolai Jorgensen who capitalised on some poor Roda defending to set up visiting skipper, Dirk Kuyt who poked the ball past the exposed Benjamin van Leer.

Feyenoord sealed all three points with two minutes to play when Eljero Elia cut in from the left and played a neat one-two with Jorgensen before beating van Leer with a low drive to the far post.

With their title rivals having stretched their lead at the top of the Eredivisie standings to eight points it was imperative that Ajax left Zwolle with all three points and Peter Bosz’s side made no mistake at the MAC3PARK Stadion on Sunday afternoon.

Following a goalless opening period the visitors turned up the pressure in the early stages of the second half and when 17-year-old, Justin Kluivert – who had been handed his Eredivisie bow by Bosz following an injury to Amin Younes late in the first half, slipped in Anwar El Ghazi with a well weighted slide rule pass in the 53^rd minute, the precocious 21-year-old – who has been heavily linked with a move to Lille of late, was tugged down from behind by Zwolle centre half, Philippe Sandler leaving referee Dennis Higler little option but to point to the spot from which Lasse Schone sent Mickey van der Hart the wrong way to put the Lancers into the ascendancy.

With the deadlock broken, the hosts appeared to be on the ropes and, just two minutes after falling behind, Ron Jans – who recently announced that he will be stepping down as Zwolle coach come the end of the season, saw his side go two-down when a long, raking pass from defence by Joel Veltman found Hakim Ziyech in the clear and, having turned Sandler inside out, left van der Hart rooted to the spot with a low drive to the far post.

However, Zwolle bore little resemblance to the side who came into this encounter third off bottom having endured a tumultuous opening half of the season prior to the winter break and halved their visitor’s advantage with eighteen minutes remaining – Mustafa Saymak pouncing upon some sloppy distribution out of defence by Nick Viergever to slip in Ajax loanee, Queensy Menig on the right whose perfectly weighted cross found the head of Birmingham City loanee, Nicolai Brock-Madsen who beat Andre Onana – notching the 24-year-old’s first league goal of the season.

However, any chance of a comeback was dashed ten minutes from time when, having picked up the ball on halfway, Ziyech shrugged off the attentions of Saymak before sprinting into the box and beating van der Hart with a low drive to the far post to seal all three points and cut Feyenoord’s advantage at the top of the Eredivisie standings to five points once more.

Elsewhere, Vitesse Arnhem made short work of FC Twente – hitting their visitors for three in the space of thirty four minutes despite later being reduced to ten men with nine minutes remaining.

On the road, Rene Hake’s men have born little resemblance to the free flowing attacking outfit that has proven so hard to overcome in Enschede and the visitors found themselves a goal down with just thirteen minutes on the clock at the GelreDome – Lewis Baker putting Henk Fraser’s men into the ascendancy with the Englishman’s tenth goal of the season in all competitions, before Ricky van Wolfswinkel doubled the home side’s advantage six minutes before the interval.

Milot Rashica made it three just two minutes after the resumption of play and, despite Mateusz Klich pulling one back from the spot in the 78^th minute and Chelsea loanee, Baker receiving his marching orders from referee, Ed Janssen nine minutes from time, the hosts held on for all three points to edge into the UEFA Europa League playoff places at the expense of their opponents with their third win in their last four outings.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Tilburg where a lone strike from 18-year-old, Jay-Roy Grot fourteen minutes from time secured three vital points for NEC Nijmegen to steer Peter Hyballa’s men eight points clear of the drop-zone following their relegation tussle with Willem II.

RESULTS

Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 AZ Alkmaar

SC Heerenveen 2-0 ADO Den Haag

Heracles 1-4 FC Groningen

PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Excelsior

Sparta Rotterdam 1-2 FC Utrecht

Roda JC 0-2 Feyenoord

PEC Zwolle 1-3 AFC Ajax

Vitesse Arnhem 3-1 FC Twente

Willem II 0-1 NEC Nijmegen

 

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The sixteenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at the Noordlease Stadion where Groningen brought to an end the seven-game unbeaten run of visitors, Roda JC.

Mimoun Mahi put the hosts into the ascendancy after just ten minutes with his fifth goal of the season before Norwegian forward, Alexander Sorloth made sure of all three points for Ernest Faber’s side nineteen minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen where NEC inflicted a fourth loss in succession on Zeljko Petrovic’s free-falling ADO Den Haag.

Twenty-three-year-old Frenchman, Kevin Mayi had already put the home side a goal to the good with just ten minutes on the clock before ADO left back, Tyronne Ebuehi put through his own net just two minutes later to leave the out-of-form visitors with a proverbial mountain to climb and things would get even worse for the men from The Hague – Mohamed Rayhi adding a third for the hosts a minute before the break to effectively end the game as a contest with a half of football still to play.

Having come up short in their pursuit of a place in the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League after being held goalless at home to FC Rostov in midweek – a result which was good enough for the Russian side to finish their first ever UEFA Champions League campaign in third place in Group D, PSV Eindhoven played host to bottom placed Go Ahead Eagles in the knowledge that the defence of their Eredivisie crown would now be their only concern for the remainder of the campaign.

Phillip Cocu’s men started well but, for the ninth time in sixteen league outings this season, went in at the break without having found the back of the net despite the best efforts of Bart Ramselaar who rattled visiting ‘keeper, Theo Zwarthoed’s right hand upright just short of the half hour mark.

Having presided over a wretched run of results that has seen the newly promoted side lose seven of their last eight games ahead of their trip to Eindhoven, Eagles coach, Hans de Koning has been feeling the heat of late and, despite a creditable performance at the Philips Stadion, the visitors, who have picked up just one point on the road all season, were to once again return to Deventer empty handed when an attempted through ball by substitute, Steven Bergwijn ricocheted off visiting right back, Joey Groenbast into the path of PSV’s marauding left back Joshua Brenet whose pinpoint ball across the face of Zwarthoed’s goal found an unmarked Siem de Jong who made no mistake with the goal at his mercy.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, Heerenveen did their utmost to keep the top three in sight by overcoming a dogged Excelsior side at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s side arrived in Friesland unbeaten in their last three matches – having taken five points from a possible nine and looked like continuing their recent rich vein of form when Nigel Hasselbaink put the visitor’s into the ascendancy from the spot two minutes before the interval following a handball from Lucas Bijker.

However, the hosts were back on level terms just three minutes into the second period thanks to Swedish marksman, Sam Larsson who was on hand again twelve minutes from time to net his seventh goal of the season and secure all three points for the home side to leave Jurgen Streppel’s side just four points off third placed PSV.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the MAC3PARK Stadion where PEC Zwolle ended a run of three successive defeats by holding fellow strugglers, Willem II to a goalless draw that did little to alleviate either side’s relegation fears – Ron Jans’ men remaining entrenched in the bottom three while Erwin van de Looi’s charges sit just two points and three places better off in 13^th.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at Het Kasteel where visitors, Vitesse Arnhem took all three points at the expense of their undermanned hosts, Sparta Rotterdam.

Alex Pastoor’s side have struggled of late – having taken just one point from the last nine while, by contrast, Henk Fraser’s men have enjoyed a recent upturn in form – taking five points over the same period, which saw the Arnhem-based outfit on the fringes of the UEFA Europa League playoff places ahead of this encounter.

However, despite their contrasting form, the visitors had to wait until Ricky van Wolfswinkel struck seven minutes from time to break the host’s resolute rear guard while any chance of a comeback was dispelled when referee, Allard Lindhout gave Stijn Spearings his marching orders in the second minute of added time.

Two sides with contrasting fortunes in continental competition came head to head to Sunday afternoon as AZ Alkmaar – fresh from a remarkable victory over Zenit St. Petersburg that ensured that John van den Brom’s side will be in the hat for Monday’s draw for the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League, took on league-leading, Feyenoord who tumbled out of the same competition after slipping up at home to Dick Advocaat’s, Fenerbahce on Thursday evening.

Despite their elimination from European competition, Feyenoord are currently enjoying the club’s best start to a season in sixteen years and Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side wasted little time in shifting their focus back onto domestic matters – Steven Berghuis marking his return to the club where he made his name by putting the visitor’s into an 11^th minute lead with a low drive following a neat one-two with Nicolai Jorgensen on the edge of the Alkmaar area.

It appeared that the exertions of Thursday evening had taken a significant toll on the hosts who found themselves increasingly overrun as the half progressed – Eljero Elia cutting in from the left and beating Mattias Johansson before striking the foot of Sergio Rochet’s left hand upright with a quarter of an hour gone.

As the chances piled up for the table-toppers, a second goal appeared inevitable. Yet the goal-scorer and the manner in which it was scored were anything but predictable. Jan-Arie van der Heijden hadn’t found the back of the net in more than eighteen months coming into this encounter, yet took it upon himself to double the visitor’s advantage just four minutes later – the centre half picking the ball up on half way before gliding past three men and playing a neat give and go with Jorgensen whose well weighted return ball found the former Ajax and Vitesse man in prime position just outside the host’s box to evade the attentions of a sliding Stijn Wuytens and poke the ball over the onrushing Rochet into the back of the net.

The league leaders weren’t finished – with just seconds remaining before the half time whistle, Jens Toornstra capitalised on a poor throw in from Johansson on half way to set Tonny Vilhena away with only Derrick Luckassen to beat which the Feyenoord number ten did with some aplomb – looping a well-weighted ball over the AZ centre back’s head to Jorgensen whose side-footed finish effectively ended the game as a contest with forty five minutes still to play.

Feyenoord, whose attention returns to defending their KNVB Beker crown on Wednesday evening when they play host to ADO Den Haag in the round of 16, went through the motions in the second half but did add a fourth with 21 minutes left to play when Elia cut in from the left and fed Vilhena who, having found himself with time and space aplenty inside the host’s area, picked out the top left hand corner of Rochet’s net to send the Rotterdam giants three points clear at the top of the standings and put the pressure back on title rivals, Ajax who faced off against FC Twente later in the afternoon.

Elsewhere on Sunday afternoon, FC Utrecht moved into 6^th position after seeing off ten-man Heracles at the Stadion Galgenwaard.

After having weathered a torrid opening to the campaign that saw his side winless in their opening six games of the season, Erik ten Hag’s men are now unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions and took the lead just after the half hour mark when  Mike te Wierik put through his own net.

Utrecht’s talismanic forward, Sebastien Haller sealed all three points for the hosts from the spot with five minutes remaining before referee, Bas Nijhuis rubbed salt into the visitor’s wounds by giving Tim Breukers his marching orders seconds before blowing the final whistle.

The sixteenth round of Eredivisie action was concluded at De Grolsch Veste where ten-man, Ajax surprisingly slipped up in their pursuit of league leaders, Feyenoord at the hands of FC Twente who ended the visitor’s remarkable twenty-match unbeaten run that had stretched all the way back to the end of August in the process.

With the game seemingly headed for a goalless draw, Manchester City loanee, Bersant Celina got free down the left hand side and put in a dangerous ball that seemed destined for the boot of substitute, Chinedu Ede but for the intervention of Nick Viergever who inexplicably shovelled the ball out of danger with his left hand after falling at Ede’s feet leaving referee, Dennis Higler with little alternative but to issue the Ajax centre half with his second yellow card of the game and consequently reduce Peter Bosz’s side to ten men for what little time remained after Mateusz Klich sent Ajax ‘keeper, Andre Onana the wrong way from the resultant spot kick a minute into added time at the end of the game.

Results: Week 16

FC Groningen 2-0 Roda JC

NEC Nijmegen 3-0 ADO Den Haag

PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Go Ahead Eagles

SC Heerenveen 2-1 Excelsior

PEC Zwolle 0-0 Willem II

Sparta Rotterdam 0-1 Vitesse Arnhem

AZ Alkmaar 0-4 Feyenoord

FC Utrecht 2-0 Heracles

FC Twente 1-0 AFC Ajax

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The seventeenth and final round of Eredivisie action before the month-long winter break kicked off on Friday evening in Tilburg where Willem II surprisingly overcame Heerenveen.

Erwin van de Looi’s men had been written off by many following a torrid start to the season which saw the Tilburg-based outfit win just one of their first eleven games – that sole win remarkably arriving at the Amsterdam Arena on 20^th August, but the side who only just retained their top flight status by successfully negotiating the unpredictable end of season promotion/ relegation playoffs have hit form of late – coming into this encounter unbeaten in their last four outings and the home side’s renewed confidence was clear for all to see as Spanish forward, Fran Sol handed the hosts the lead on the quarter hour mark.

In contrast, Jurgen Streppel arrived at the club he negotiated through those same promotion/ relegation playoffs at the end of last term, having helped his new club, Heerenveen into the top four. The Friesland-based outfit, having started the season with just one loss in their first thirteen matches in all competitions, arrived at the Koning Willem II Stadion on the back of three successive victories that included securing progression into the quarter finals of the KNVB Beker on Tuesday evening at the expense of IJsselmeervogels and the in-form visitors were back on level terms just nine minutes later – Freek Heerkens putting through his own net.

However, it was the hosts who came out on top when Fran Sol helped himself to his second of the evening and the Spaniard’s seventh of the campaign just short of the hour mark to leave Erwin van de Looi’s men five points clear of the bottom three in 10^th.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway with a stalemate at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion between draw specialists, Roda JC and FC Utrecht.

This was the Kerkrade-based outfit’s seventh draw in their last eight outings and tenth overall and was enough to temporarily take the hosts two points clear of bottom-of-the-table, Go Ahead Eagles.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s side, having weathered a poor opening to the campaign where they went winless in their first six games of the season prior to knocking FC Twente out of the cup, find themselves firmly ensconced in the UEFA Europa League playoff places and, by virtue of a last gasp Richairo Zivkovic penalty in their all-Eredivisie tie in the last 16 of the KNVB Beker against PEC Zwolle on Wednesday evening, have secured a place in the quarter finals of the competition that they reached the final of last season.

Two other sides that enjoyed cup success in midweek came head-to-head at De Kuip on Saturday evening. League leaders, Feyenoord easily saw off ADO Den Haag on Wednesday evening while visitors, Vitesse Arnhem dispatched fifth tier outfit, Jodan Boys with consummate ease to tee up a quarter final between the two sides at the end of January.

Having weathered their own sticky spell, which included their only league defeat to date – an embarrassing loss at Go Ahead Eagles at the start of November, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have hit a rich vein of goal scoring form of late – the Rotterdam giants having found the back of the net 21 times in their last five outings prior to the visit of Henk Fraser’s side and it didn’t take long for the home side to find the back of the net once more – Feyenoord hitting the front on the quarter hour mark when a Rick Karsdorp cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by Kelvin Leerdam  – the ex-Feyenoord player only succeeding in presenting the ball to Eljero Elia who made the Vitesse full back pay by putting the hosts into the ascendancy.

However, the men from Arnhem have enjoyed their own good run of form of late – arriving in Rotterdam unbeaten in their last five outings in all competitions and were back on level terms just nine minutes later when Miquel Nelom’s intended pass inadvertently hit referee, Dennis Higler to set the visitors on a counterattack which resulted in Milot Rashica getting free down the right and finding Adnane Tighadouini unmarked at the back post with a perfectly weighted cross which the Dutch born Moroccan volleyed past Brad Jones.

Undeterred, the hosts continued to press and very nearly retook the lead just after the half hour mark when Eric Botteghin rose highest to head a Tonny Vilhena corner against Eloy Room’s crossbar.

It seemed only a matter of time before the league leaders restored their advantage and the breakthrough came three minutes before the break when an Elia cross from the right found Steven Berghuis unmarked at the back post, who having escaped the attentions of Japanese left back, Kosuke Ota, headed the ball past Room to send the hosts into the break on top.

Coming into this encounter, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men knew that a win or a draw would guarantee that the Rotterdammers would be ‘Winter Champions’ for the first time in sixteen years and the home side ensured that it would be the latter when they found a third just short of the hour mark – Vilhena feeding Dirk Kuyt on the edge of the area who then shuffled the ball out to Berghuis who found himself with time and space to curl the ball with his left foot around the despairing dive of Room.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at De Grolsch Veste where visitors, AZ Alkmaar – fresh from securing passage into the quarter finals of the KNVB Beker in midweek, inflicted just a second home defeat in the league this season on hosts, FC Twente.

Wout Weghorst had given John van den Brom’s men the lead just a minute into the second half before Manchester City loanee, Enes Unal brought the home side back on level terms with the Turk’s eleventh goal of the season in all competitions in the 68^th minute to leave the match seemingly headed for a draw until the unfortunate, Peet Bijen put through his own net a minute into stoppage time to hand an early Christmas present of all three points to the visitors.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Stadion Woudestein where Excelsior and NEC Nijmegen shared four goals between them.

Stanley Elbers had put the home side ahead after just eleven minutes of play with his fifth goal of the season before 18-year-old, Jay-Roy Grot levelled the scores four minutes before the break.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s men welcomed their visitors from Nijmegen having won just one of their last five games and were in desperate need of a win to take them away from the bottom three and retook the lead just four minutes into the second half through full back, Khalid Karami.

Peter Hyballa’s side came into this encounter three points better off than their hosts, having won two of their last three and the Nijmegen-based outfit ensured that the gap between the two sides would remain unchanged over the winter break when centre half, Dario Dumic levelled proceedings following a Ferdi Kadioglu corner with twelve minutes left to play.

Sunday’s action continued at the Noordlease Stadion where FC Groningen entertained bottom-of-the-table, Go Ahead Eagles.

The Eagles made the trip north two points adrift at the foot of the table having lost their last four in a row – their last win coming on 6^th November when they remarkably overcame league leaders, Feyenoord at De Adelaarshorst and the visitors fell behind in the 20^th minute when the home side hit the Eredivisie strugglers on the counter attack – Simon Tibbling riding the challenge of Leon de Kogel before playing in 22-year-old, Mimoun Mahi who unleashed an unstoppable drive from the right hand side of the area that left visiting ‘keeper, Theo Zwarthoed grasping at thin air as the ball whistled past him into the roof of the net.

It was turning into a familiar story for under pressure Eagles coach, Hans de Koning, who had seen his side take just a single point from their travels in the Eredivisie this term until just after the half hour mark when Jarchinio Antonia was put in the clear by the quick thinking of de Kogel following a succession of corners from which the home side had failed to profit – the ex-Groningen man rattling the ball past an exposed Sergio Padt to drag the besieged visitors back on level terms and ultimately, secure just the second point accrued by the Deventer-based outfit away from home this season.

While there were signs of optimism heading into the winter break for one side from Overijssel there was little festive cheer for the supporters of PEC Zwolle after their nine men were hit for three by Heracles at the Polman Stadion on Sunday afternoon.

Having tumbled out of the KNVB Beker at the hands of FC Utrecht following a last-gasp Richairo Zivkovic spot kick on Wednesday evening which extended the visitor’s winless run to six in all competitions ahead of their trip to Almelo, the sixteenth minute dismissal of Bart Schenkeveld after the full back had felled Brandley Kuwas in the area meant that the resultant penalty duly converted by Swedish marksman, Samuel Armenteros served to rub salt into Zwolle’s wounds.

Things would only get worse for Ron Jans’ side when Bram van Polen was shown his second yellow card by referee, Edwin van de Graaf on the hour mark before further strikes by first, Vincent Vermeij twelve minutes from time and then Daryl van Mieghem three minutes later added a touch of the emphatic to the score line.

Elsewhere, a lone Sheraldo Becker strike just short of the hour mark gave ten-man, ADO Den Haag a priceless victory over Alex Pastoor’s Sparta Rotterdam at the Kyocera Stadion.

ADO coach, Zeljko Petrovic had seen his side lose each of their last five outings in all competitions while shipping in fifteen goals in the process and was left to bite his nails when 20-year-old, Hector Hevel was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence by referee, Kevin Blom eleven minutes from time. However, the men from The Hague were able to cling on to what was just their third home triumph in the Eredivisie this season and climb three points clear of the dreaded bottom three.

The seventeenth round of Eredivisie action was brought to a close with de Topper, as Ajax – six points adrift of leaders, Feyenoord, played host to reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven who, following a stuttering opening to their title defence, arrived in Amsterdam nine points off top spot

Having gone a remarkable twenty games unbeaten in all competitions since back-to-back losses against Willem II and FC Rostov in late August, Peter Bosz’s men welcomed Phillip Cocu’s side having tasted defeat twice in the space of five days – de Godenzonen following up a last gasp defeat in Enschede on Sunday by tumbling out of the KNVB Beker at the hands of second tier, SC Cambuur on Thursday evening and early injuries that forced the withdrawal of both Kasper Dolberg and Anwar El Ghazi threatened to derail the home side’s chances in this encounter until early in the second half when Amin Younes cut in from the left and played a square ball which substitute, Mateo Cassierra allowed to run through his legs affording Ajax skipper, Davy Klaassen time and space to unleash an unstoppable right-footed drive from the edge of the area that left Jeroen Zoet grasping at thin air.

Just short of the hour mark, Siem de Jong made his return to the Amsterdam ArenA – being introduced as a replacement for Andres Guardado to a mixed reception from those who had once cheered the Dutch international during his trophy-laden time at the club and the injury plagued 27-year-old won’t be expecting many Christmas cards from Amsterdam this year after popping up to deny his former club all three points – the Newcastle loanee stealing in behind the Ajax backline before controlling a well weighted pass from Gaston Pereiro with his right and lashing the ball past Andre Onana with his left to leave honours even and Feyenoord five points clear at the top of the standings.

Results: Week 17

Willem II 2-1 SC Heerenveen

Roda JC 0-0 FC Utrecht

Feyenoord 3-1 Vitesse Arnhem

FC Twente 1-2 AZ Alkmaar

Excelsior 2-2 NEC Nijmegen

FC Groningen 1-1 Go Ahead Eagles

Heracles 3-0 PEC Zwolle

ADO Den Haag 1-0 Sparta Rotterdam

AFC Ajax 1-1 PSV Eindhoven

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The fifteenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at the Polman Stadion in Almelo where Heracles made it three wins from their last four thanks to a goal from Lerin Duarte seven minutes before the break and a strike from in-form Swedish marksman, Samuel Armenteros, who netted his fifth goal in his last four outings seven minutes before the end to send NEC Nijmegen home empty handed.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action kicked off at De Adelaarshorst where bottom placed Go Ahead Eagles welcomed fifth placed Heerenveen.

Despite their disparity in the standings, both sides came into this encounter with just one win in their last five league outings and, surprisingly, it was the hosts who came out of the blocks the quicker – Darren Maatsen giving Pelle van Amersfoort the slip just outside the area before curling the ball delightfully around the despairing dive of visiting ‘keeper, Erwin Mulder to put the home side into the ascendancy with just seven minutes on the clock.

However, despite their remarkable victory over league leaders, Feyenoord on 6^th November, Hans de Koning’s side have found points hard to come by – losing six of their last seven matches in all competitions and the home side were pegged back just thirteen minutes later when Sam Larsson found Reza Ghoochannejhad with an abundance of time and space on the left hand side of the host’s area – the Iranian international lifting the ball over the onrushing Theo Zwarthoed to restore parity.

The newly promoted Deventer outfit have, more often than not, found things a bit of an uphill struggle this term as they attempt to breach the inevitable gulf in class. But de Koning’s charges can also point to a number of occasions where lady luck has been noticeably absent – not least when Jurgen Streppel’s side took the lead seven minutes later when, following a Heerenveen corner, Eagles’ left back, Rochdi Achenteh’s attempted clearance was sliced across the face of the host’s goal to an unmarked, Ghoochannejhad, who made no mistake with the goal at his mercy.

The visitors added a third when Japanese international, Yuki Kobayashi found himself in the right place at the right time to tuck in the rebound from just outside the box after Arber Zeneli had initially rattled Zwarthoed’s right hand upright on the stroke of half time.

The home side rallied after the break but failed to make the breakthrough – Xandro Schenk having a penalty appeal waved away by referee, Allard Lindhout just after the resumption before PSV loanee, Marcel Ritzmaier rattled the frame of Mulder’s goal twelve minutes from time.

AZ Alkmaar prepared for a crucial UEFA Europa League showdown with Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday evening with a six-goal thriller at lowly Excelsior.

Stanley Elbers gave the home side the lead with just nine minutes on the clock before Robert Muhren levelled for the visitor’s just two minutes later with his third goal in his last two league matches.

Nigel Hasselbaink restored the lead for Mitchell van der Gaag’s side from the spot on 26 minutes, but the sides would go into the interval on level terms when Muamer Tankovic netted eight minutes later.

Hicham Faik’s fourth goal of the season twenty minutes into the second half looked to have sealed the home side’s second win in three league games until Stijn Wuytens popped up to earn John van den Brom’s side a share of the spoils fourteen minutes from time.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, with Tuesday’s crucial UEFA Champions League showdown with FC Rostov occupying the thoughts of Phillip Cocu, reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven continued to stutter their way through the defence of their title as they were held goalless by relegation-threatened, Roda JC at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the GelreDome where Vitesse Arnhem posted their first league victory since recording a narrow home success over Groningen on 1^st October following a 3-1 win over PEC Zwolle.

A penalty from Chelsea loanee, Lewis Baker put the home side ahead just after the half hour mark before Yuning Zhang doubled the host’s advantage four minutes before the break.

Bart Schenkeveld brought Ron Jans’ side back into the contest on 67 minutes to give the relegation-threatened visitors renewed hope that they could take something from the encounter until another man on loan from Stamford Bridge, Nathan, ensured the points would stay in Arnhem a minute into added time.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Kyocera Stadion in The Hague where FC Utrecht made it eight matches without defeat by dispatching ten-man, ADO Den Haag.

Nacer Barazite had given the away side the lead just short of the half hour mark before Tom Beugelsdijk saw red following his second caution of the game with a quarter of an hour remaining. After which, Eric ten Hag’s men exploited their numerical superiority – adding a second through French talisman, Sebastien Haller with seven minutes left to play to inflict the host’s third defeat in as many matches.

Elsewhere on Sunday afternoon, Willem II picked up another important point in their battle to avoid the drop as they held high-flying FC Twente goalless in Tilburg.

Erwin van de Looi’s side have now taken five points from a possible nine in their last three league games to edge themselves two points clear of the bottom three.

With a crucial UEFA Europa League clash against Fenerbahçe on the horizon on Thursday evening, league leaders, Feyenoord had to focus on domestic matters as they played host to local rivals, Sparta Rotterdam.

This was the first Eredivisie clash between the two cross-city adversaries in just short of seven years and a vital one for the hosts who were looking to pull three points clear of bitter rivals, Ajax who played host to Groningen a few hours later on Sunday afternoon.

The home side wasted little time in stamping their authority on the contest and took the lead in the 24^th minute – an Eljero Elia cross from the left was poorly dealt with by Sparta’s 17-year-old left back, Rick van Drongelen whose clearance presented the ball to Tonny Vilhena who unleashed a dipping drive from just outside the area that left visiting ‘keeper, Roy Kortsmit grasping at thin air.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men doubled their advantage two minutes before the interval – Jens Toornstra working a quick give and go with Rick Karsdorp on the right before meeting the Feyenoord right back’s deft back heel with an audacious half volley that sailed over the helpless Kortsmit into the back of the net.

Karsdorp and Toornstra were involved again in the host’s third of the afternoon which arrived just short of the hour mark – the newly minted Dutch international sliding in Toornstra on the right whose pinpoint cross found Nicolai Jorgensen who made no mistake – trebling the home side’s advantage from point black range.

Jorgensen was on hand once more to roll in the Rotterdam giant’s fourth goal of the afternoon from the edge of the area just five minutes later before an emotional Eric Botteghin paid tribute to those lost in the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of, amongst others, the players and staff of Brazilian club, Chapecoense after heading home a left wing cross from fellow centre half, Jan-Arie van der Heijden in the 74^th minute.

Substitute, Thomas Verhaar came off the bench to claim a consolation for Alex Pastoor’s side with four minutes left to play before Elia capped off a commanding display by the hosts – adding the home side’s sixth of the afternoon with a low drive from the left hand side of the area after being teed up by Miquel Nelom.

Feyenoord’s victory meant that the pressure was on Ajax who played host to Groningen at the Amsterdam ArenA in the final match of the weekend.

Colombian centre half, Davinson Sanchez got the hosts off to the perfect start – heading home an in-swinging Lasse Schone corner from point blank range with just nine minutes on the clock.

However, the home side, who make the relatively short trip to face Standard Liege in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening having already assured themselves not only of progression to the latter stages of the competition but also of top spot in Group G, found a second goal hard to come by and very nearly found themselves pegged back when a Yoell van Nieff free kick almost caught out an out of position Andre Onana – the Cameroon international pawing the ball onto his left hand upright seven minutes into the second half.

This near miss served as a timely wake-up call for Peter Bosz’s side who came into this encounter unbeaten in their last 18 matches in all competitions and normal service was resumed three minutes later as Amin Younes cut inside Hans Hateboer and rattled Sergio Padt’s crossbar.

The German’s miss galvanised the home side and, in the 71^st minute, the returning Anwar El Ghazi was adjudged by referee, Serdar Gozubuyuk to have been unlawfully restrained in the area by Albert Rusnak – the referee pointing to the spot from which Hakim Ziyech doubled the host’s advantage.

Ziyech could and probably should have made it three when Gozubuyuk pointed to the spot for a second time eight minutes later having adjudged that Etienne Reijnen had held back Nick Viergever in the box. However, the Moroccan international this time saw his spot kick saved by Padt who then denied Donny van de Beek as the 19-year-old attempted to put away the rebound.

Despite Padt’s heroics, the victory saw de Godenzonen join league leaders, Feyenoord on 36 points after fifteen rounds of action with their Rotterdam rivals remaining atop the Eredivisie standings by virtue of goal difference while PSV Eindhoven sit six points adrift in third.

Results: Week 15

Heracles 2-0 NEC Nijmegen

Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 SC Heerenveen

Excelsior 3-3 AZ Alkmaar

Roda JC 0-0 PSV Eindhoven

Vitesse Arnhem 3-1 PEC Zwolle

ADO Den Haag 0-2 FC Utrecht

Willem II 0-0 FC Twente

Feyenoord 6-1 Sparta Rotterdam

AFC Ajax 2-0 FC Groningen

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The fourteenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening at De Adelaarshorst in Deventer where Willem II surprisingly emerged victorious over a lacklustre Go Ahead Eagles.

Go Ahead Eagles secured an immediate return to the top flight of Dutch football via the end of season promotion/ relegation playoffs last term while their visitors from Tilburg had preserved their Eredivisie status in the same fashion and, with both sides coming into this encounter with eleven points from their opening thirteen matches and occupying 17^th and 16^th respectively in the standings (the promotion/ relegation playoff places) this was unsurprisingly billed as a true relegation six-pointer.

The contest itself proved to be every bit as edgy as anticipated but, despite a vociferous home backing, the Eagles were out of sorts – allowing Erwin van de Looi’s side to came away with a priceless three points thanks to a lone strike from Feyenoord loanee, Jari Schuurman two minutes into the second half – the 19-year-old springing the host’s offside trap before beating Theo Zwarthoed at the second attempt to mark his full debut for the Tilburg-based outfit with his first goal in a Willem II jersey.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the GelreDome where struggling Excelsior came away from their encounter with Vitesse Arnhem with a well-deserved point.

In fact, Mitchell van der Gaag’s men will feel hard done by to have left Arnhem with just a point when all three seemed to be heading back to Rotterdam with the visitors when a first half double from Hicham Faik saw Excelsior two goals to the good with just fourteen minutes on the clock.

However, despite not having tasted victory in the Eredivisie since a home win over Groningen on 1^st October, the hosts got themselves back into the contest on 25 minutes courtesy of a Ricky van Wolfswinkel spot-kick before Moroccan midfielder, Adnane Tighadouini completed the comeback for Henk Fraser’s side in the 73^rd minute to secure the home side’s fourth draw in their last six league games.

Having dropped points in each of their last two Eredivisie matches and seeing their hopes of participation in any form of continental competition hanging by a thread following defeat in Madrid on Wednesday evening, reigning champions, PSV Eindhoven came into the fourteenth round of fixtures six points off the pace set by the leaders, Feyenoord and desperately in need of a win when they played host to a struggling ADO Den Haag at the Philips Stadion on Saturday evening.

Phillip Cocu’s men welcomed an ADO side who, having made a spectacular start to the campaign that saw the men from The Hague win their opening three games on the bounce, had turned losing into an art form ever since – Zeljko Petrovic’s side arriving in Eindhoven with just one win in their last ten Eredivisie matches having tasted defeat in seven of those outings.

It didn’t take the hosts long to put both their chequered recent form and their struggling visitors in their place – Gaston Pereiro giving PSV the lead from the spot after being felled by ADO full back, Tyronne Ebuehi with just twelve minutes on the clock before an own goal from the unlucky, Tom Beugelsdijk and Luuk de Jong’s fourth league goal of the season saw the game over as a contest just ten minutes into the second half despite Beugelsdijk going some way to making amends by converting from the spot for the visitors just short of the hour mark after Jeroen Zoet had sent Gervane Kastaneer tumbling in the box. The Dutch international stopper was somewhat lucky to remain on the field of play – only receiving a yellow card from referee, Bjorn Kuipers despite being the host’s last line of defence.

Following a wretched start to the Ernest Faber era in Groningen which saw his new side lose their opening three matches of the campaign and fail to record a win anywhere until a comprehensive away day pummelling of a hapless FC Utrecht on 16^th September, things have been looking up of late – Faber’s men having taken four points from their last two games prior to their meeting with PEC Zwolle on Saturday evening at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

Ron Jans’ side had endured a similarly difficult opening to the campaign – the 2014 KNVB Beker winner’s first league victory not arriving until a narrow home success over ADO Den Haag on 30^th September. However, like Groningen, things had been gradually looking up of late with the defeat at De Kuip last time out the host’s only setback in their last seven outings in all competitions.

Yet, it was the away side who not only came away with all three points but remarkably put the home side to the sword by hitting their hosts for four without reply – Simon Tibbling putting Ernest Faber’s men into the ascendancy in the first minute of what would ultimately prove to be a one-sided contest before former Excelsior marksman, Tom van Weert added a second for the visitors six minutes before the break.

A first league goal of the season from 22-year-old Slovakian, Albert Rusnak ended the match as a meaningful contest in the 77^th minute before Mimoun Mahi rubbed salt into the host’s wounds four minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the Goffertstadion where NEC Nijmegen and FC Twente played out a five-goal thriller.

Jay-Roy Grot was the hero for Peter Hyballa’s side – the 18-year-old’s first half brace putting the host’s two up and seemingly on their way to a first league win since a priceless away day win over Roda JC on 1^st October.

However, Rene Hake’s surprising high-flyers, whose last league defeat had been at the hands of Heerenveen on 10^th September, pulled themselves back into the contest six minutes into the second half courtesy of Manchester City loanee, Enes Unal’s tenth goal of the season in all competitions.

Yet, the home side weren’t to be denied – centre half, Dario Dumic’s strike just before the hour mark ultimately ensuring a vital win for the hosts despite an own goal from Swedish defender, Mikael Dyrestam eleven minutes from time ensuring a tense end to an entertaining contest.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action began at Het Kasteel where Roda JC extended their recent run of form to six games without defeat – taking a precious point away from their encounter with Sparta Rotterdam which was sufficient enough to move the Kerkrade-based outfit off the foot of the Eredivisie standings at the expense of Go Ahead Eagles.

In truth, Yannis Anastasiou’s side may have felt hard done by with just a point to show for their trip to Rotterdam – experienced defender, Chris Kum and Cypriote forward, Nestoras Mytidis having put the away side two goals to the good either side of half time before strikes from first, Loris Brogno just after the hour mark and then, Australian midfielder, Kenneth Dougall with nine minutes to play, rescued a point for Alex Pastoor’s men.

Despite enduring an underwhelming UEFA Europa League campaign, AZ Alkmaar’s narrow victory over Irish minnows, Dundalk on Thursday evening left John van den Brom’s men in second place in Group D and with a chance of making it through to the latter stages of the competition with just one group game remaining and, buoyed by this morale-boosting victory, the Alkmaar-based outfit hit struggling Heracles for five on Sunday afternoon at the AFAS Stadion.

An eighth goal of the campaign from former Heracles striker, Wout Weghorst (who also squandered a penalty for the home side just before the half time whistle) sandwiched in between a brace from free-scoring midfielder, Robert Muhren saw the home side three goals up with just 25 minutes on the clock before a spot-kick from Swedish marksman, Samuel Armenteros briefly brought the visitors back into the contest seven minutes into the second half.

However, any hopes John Stegeman’s side might have harboured of a comeback were eradicated by Dabney dos Santos who restored the host’s three-goal cushion before Iranian international, Alireza Jahanbakhsh rubbed salt into the visitor’s wounds by adding a fifth for the home side in the first minute of added time.

With their progress to the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League already assured, Peter Bosz was able to shuffle his pack for Ajax’s victory over Panathinaikos on Thursday evening – ensuring that the visitors arrived fresh for their Sunday afternoon encounter with Jurgen Streppel’s high-flying Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

The hosts were yet to taste defeat on home soil this season and appeared to be on course to retain that record until substitute, Donny van de Beek – who had also put in a full shift on Thursday evening, slid a perfectly timed ball in behind the host’s rear guard for Ajax skipper, Davy Klaassen to slide the ball through the legs of the exposed Erwin Mulder and ultimately seal a win which, for a short time at least took the visitors to the top of the Eredivisie standings – a point ahead of bitter rivals, Feyenoord, whose match in Utrecht kicked off later in the afternoon.

Having endured a torrid evening in Manchester which saw them hit for four at Old Trafford without reply and their hopes of progression to the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League all but ended, Feyenoord arrived at the Stadion Galgenwaard for a repeat of last season’s KNVB Beker final against FC Utrecht looking to reclaim top spot in the Eredivisie – having seen Ajax overtake them by virtue of their victory over Heerenveen earlier in the afternoon.

However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men found themselves on the back foot almost immediately when Sofyan Amrabat disposed Tonny Vilhena and found Nacer Barazite who put in a well weighted slide rule pass that gave Sebastien Haller the opportunity to slot the ball past Brad Jones in the Feyenoord goal with just two minutes on the clock.

Despite the shock of conceding so early in the contest, the visitors rallied and were back on level terms just two minutes later – ex-Utrecht man, Jens Toornstra finding Rick Karsdorp whose marauding run down the right very nearly found Nicolai Jorgensen in the box were in not for a timely intervention by Mark van der Maarel whose clearance fell invitingly for another former Utrecht player – Dirk Kuyt, who squeezed the rebound between Robbin Ruiter and the Utrecht ‘keeper’s near post.

Yet, Erik ten Hag’s men would go into the break with their noses in front – retaking the lead just after the half hour mark when Amrabat capitalised on a poor clearance from Eljero Elia to unleash a long range effort that was parried into the path of full back, Giovanni Troupee by Jones who was helpless to stop the 18-year-old from restoring the host’s advantage.

The hosts appeared to be on course to inflict would have been just a second league defeat of the season for Feyenoord following the visitor’s shock reversal at the hands of Go Ahead Eagles on 6^th November when a slip from Karsdorp allowed Barazite to waltz through the visitor’s rear guard and play in Yassin Ayoub who, having wrong footed Karim El Ahmadi, was denied twice in quick succession by Australian stopper, Jones who believed he had snuffed out the danger until Haller rattled in the rebound from just inside the area.

However, Feyenoord are made of sterner stuff this season – the visitor’s forcing their way back into the contest in the final minute when Jorgensen scrambled the ball past the host’s substitute goalkeeper, David Jensen – who had replaced the injured Ruiter earlier in the half after Utrecht’s number one appeared to have suffered a head injury as he tumbled over a grounded Jorgensen while catching the ball in mid-air.

The extensive treatment for Ruiter’s injury saw nine minutes of additional time tagged onto proceedings and, in the dying seconds of an enthralling contest, the visitor’s completed their comeback – a Bilal Basacikoglu corner from the right finding the head of Jorgensen at the back post who sent the ball back across goal and onto the head of substitute, Michiel Kramer who earned Feyenoord an unlikely point which ensured that the Rotterdam giants would remain atop the Eredivisie standings at the close of the fourteenth round of action by virtue of goal difference.

Results: Week 14

Go Ahead Eagles 0-1 Willem II

Vitesse Arnhem 2-2 Excelsior

PSV Eindhoven 3-1 ADO Den Haag

PEC Zwolle 0-4 FC Groningen

NEC Nijmegen 3-2 FC Twente

Sparta Rotterdam 2-2 Roda JC

AZ Alkmaar 5-1 Heracles

SC Heerenveen 0-1 AFC Ajax

FC Utrecht 3-3 Feyenoord

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Following the international break, the thirteenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Saturday evening at the Abe Lenstra Stadion where Heerenveen, having seen their remarkable 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions come to an abrupt halt at the hands of Sparta Rotterdam last time out, could only manage a point against a Vitesse Arnhem side who came into this encounter without a win in their last four league matches – Chelsea loanee, Lewis Baker giving the visitors the lead in the 72^nd minute before substitute, Henk Veerman snatched a point for the hosts six minutes from time.

Having surprisingly brought to an end Feyenoord’s 22-match unbeaten run in the league last time out, Go Ahead Eagles arrived at the Polman Stadion in Almelo with a spring in their step for a third local derby in their last four league matches – this time against Heracles.

The visitor’s victory over the league leaders had snapped a four game losing streak in all competitions that had previously seen the newly promoted side slide to the foot of the table and be dumped out of the KNVB Beker had the hands of fifth tier amateur outfit, Jodan Boys. However, they came into this encounter just one point behind their hosts – John Stegeman’s side having recorded a surprise victory of their own last time out – taking all three points from a trip to Arnhem, having previously tasted victory all the way back on 14^th August when the Almelo-based outfit put three past Willem II at the Polman Stadion.

The new-found confidence of Hans de Koning’s side was in evidence as the visitors took the lead with just 17 minutes on the clock – Jarchinio Antonia, the Eagles’ goal-scoring hero in the victory over Feyenoord, hitting a long ball from Joey Groenbast first time to beat Heracles stopper, Bram Castro.

Despite Brahim Darri rattling Theo Zwarthoed’s crossbar in the 21^st minute, it seemed as though the Deventer-based outfit were headed for their first away win in the Eredivisie this season until Samuel Armenteros caught a bouncing ball on the edge of the visitor’s area with a sweet half volley that looped over Zwarthoed’s despairing dive to bring the hosts level 22 minutes from time.

With the momentum having shifted in favour of the home side, it was Armenteros once more who popped up to seal just a third league win this term for the hosts – the Swedish marksmen picking up the ball just outside the visitor’s area and wriggling his way through the Eagles’ rear guard before slotting the ball under the onrushing Zwarthoed for his seventh goal of the season in all competitions.

A little later on Saturday evening, reigning league champions, PSV Eindhoven – having dropped points at home to FC Twente just prior to the international break, continued to see their season unravel as Phillip Cocu’s men were surprisingly held goalless at the hands of struggling, Willem II in Tilburg.

Elsewhere, Excelsior played host to Rotterdam neighbours, Sparta on Saturday night having lost their last seven games in all competitions, while Alex Pastoor’s newly promoted side arrived at the Stadion Woudestein off the back of a home victory over high flying, Heerenveen – Sparta’s first league win since a home victory over NEC on 18^th September.

The visitors newfound confidence was clear to see as Sparta hit the front on 22 minutes through Loris Brogno’s sixth goal of the season. However, their out-of-form hosts levelled just four minutes later through Stanley Elbers before Fredy Ribeiro turned the score line on its head on the half hour mark.

Nigel Hasselbaink added a third for the home side twenty minutes into the second period to ultimately seal all three points for the hosts despite Denzel Dumfries setting the home supporter’s nerves jangling with the visitor’s second in the 73^rd minute.

At the same time, Groningen secured just their third league win of the season at the expense of an ADO Den Haag side who came into this encounter having recorded just their fourth league win this term against Willem II just prior to the international break.

An Edouard Duplan strike in the 42^nd minute sent the sides in on level terms at the Noordlease Stadion after Hans Hateboer had initially put the hosts in the driving seat with just ten minutes on the clock, before a goal from Tom van Weert, nine minutes into the second stanza, ultimately proved just enough to wrap up all three points for Ernest Faber’s men.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action began at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion in Kerkrade where bottom side, Roda JC remained at the foot of the standings despite extending their recent good run of form to five matches without defeat – emerging with a point from their lunchtime encounter with AZ Alkmaar.

The hosts hit the front six minutes before the break through Abdul Ajagun but Yannis Anastasiou’s men were denied all three points when Wout Weghorst popped up to equalise for the visitors just short of the hour mark.

Elsewhere, Ajax played host to NEC Nijmegen knowing that a win would take them to the top of the table and Peter Bosz’s men hit the front 19 minutes in – Kasper Dolberg playing a neat give and go with Danish compatriot Lasse Schone before muscling his way through the visitor’s rear guard and thrashing the ball past NEC ‘keeper, Joris Delle.

The home side, who play host to Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, doubled their advantage just five minutes later when Hakim Ziyech found Ajax skipper, Davy Klaassen on the right hand side of the visitor’s area with sufficient time and space to pick out Dolberg who made no mistake from just outside the box.

The 19-year-old Danish starlet then completed his hat trick in the 37^th minute – heading home a perfectly floated Daley Sinkgraven cross from the left following a quickly taken free kick from Ziyech that caught the visiting defenders napping.

The hosts began the second period as ruthlessly as they had ended the first and made it four with 55 minutes on the clock – Chelsea loanee, Bertrand Traore taking the ball from Davinson Sanchez before cutting inside Wojciech Golla and curling the ball beyond the exposed Delle.

It was all one way traffic and it came as little surprise when Ajax found a fifth – Lasse Schone capping a glorious period of possession with a spectacular long range effort from well outside the area that left Delle grasping at thin air.

Despite having to play with only ten men for the majority of their encounter with FC Twente following the dismissal of Ramon Leeuwin in the ninth minute, Erik ten Hag’s, FC Utrecht still came away from their visit to De Grolsch Veste on Sunday afternoon with a creditable point.

The hosts hit the front with 22 minutes on the clock when Peet Bijen found Hidde ter Avest with a penetrating long ball – the full back having the composure and presence of mind to lob the ball over the onrushing Robbin Ruiter as the Utrecht ‘keeper scrambled in vein to close down the angle at the edge of his area.

However, just four minutes later the visitors snatched an equaliser – a poor defensive clearance found its way to Yassin Ayoub who saw his speculative effort from just outside the area weakly parried onto the head of Richairo Zivkovic by Twente ‘keeper, Nick Marsman – the Ajax loanee making no mistake with the goal at his mercy to ultimately secure an unlikely point for the away side.

The thirteenth round of action was concluded at De Kuip where Feyenoord returned to the Eredivisie summit following a lacklustre three-goal victory over PEC Zwolle.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men, who no doubt had one eye on a mouth-watering trip to Old Trafford in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, came into this encounter off the back of a surprise defeat at the hands of Go Ahead Eagles – a defeat which had brought the host’s remarkable 22-match unbeaten run in the league to an abrupt halt.

After a slow start, the hosts took the lead when Feyenoord’s inspirational skipper, Dirk Kuyt headed home a pin point Jens Toornstra cross from the right in the 38^th minute before Karim El Ahmadi smashed in a spectacular second from well outside the area with 19 minutes left to play.

The victory was rounded off when Eljero Elia cut in from the left and found Kuyt inside the visitor’s area whose well weighted pass found Toornstra with time and space aplenty to lash in a spectacular third from well outside the area and restore the host’s two point cushion at the top of the Eredivisie standings.

RESULTS

SC Heerenveen 1-1 Vitesse Arnhem

Heracles 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles

Willem II 0-0 PSV Eindhoven

Excelsior 3-2 Sparta Rotterdam

FC Groningen 2-1 ADO Den Haag

Roda JC 1-1 AZ Alkmaar

AFC Ajax 5-0 NEC Nijmegen

FC Twente 1-1 FC Utrecht

Feyenoord 3-0 PEC Zwolle

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With the international break on the horizon, the twelfth round of Eredivisie action began at Het Kasteel on Friday evening where Heerenveen’s incredible 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions surprisingly came to an end at the hands of Sparta Rotterdam.

Jurgen Streppel’s men had not tasted defeat since succumbing to NEC Nijmegen on 20^th August and, when Jerry St. Juste put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute things seemed to be going to plan once more for the away side.

However, within ten minutes, Alex Pastoor’s side had turned the score line on its head through strikes from first, Stijn Spierings and then Ajax loanee, Zakaria El Azzouzi.

With the visitors forced to chase the game in the closing stages, Aussie, Craig Goodwin added a third for the hosts in the 69^th minute to seal the home side’s first league victory since dispatching NEC on 18^th September.

Another incredible run of results came to an end in Saturday’s early evening fixture – hosts, ADO Den Haag squeezing past the visiting, Willem II thanks to a lone strike by Tom Beugelsdijk eleven minutes after the half time break, to record a first league win since defeating Excelsior on 19^th August and end a run of eight Eredivisie matches without a win.

After succumbing to German powerhouse, Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening, reigning Eredivisie champions, PSV Eindhoven saw their chances of progression in European club football’s elite competition come to an end and now face a battle with Russian dark horses, Rostov to earn a place in the UEFA Europa League in the New Year.

Add to this the fact that Phillip Cocu’s men were unceremoniously dumped out of the KNVB Beker at the hands of Sparta Rotterdam a week earlier and the champion’s indifferent form in the league – especially on home soil, all pointed to PSV needing to kick start their season before it was too late.

However, the men from Eindhoven have uncharacteristically struggled for victories at the Philips Stadion – the hosts having won on only two occasions in Eindhoven in the Eredivisie this term, having netted just three times in front of their own fans in the league this season.

So the visit of Rene Hake’s FC Twente brought with it a chance for Philip Cocu’s side to get their season back on track – the visitors who, despite being a formidable prospect in front of their own fans, having only won twice on their travels this season ahead of this encounter.

Yet, following a goalless opening period, it was the away side who struck first – Manchester City Loanee, Enes Unal latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from centre half, Stefan Thesker before slotting the ball past PSV ‘keeper, Remko Pasveer to notch his eighth goal of an already impressive campaign for the 19-year-old eight minutes after the interval.

However, the visitors were denied a third away win of the season just nine minutes later when Uruguayan, Gaston Pereiro stepped in from the right and hit a low drive that visiting ‘keeper, Nick Marsman could only parry into the path of Mexican centre half, Hector Moreno who salvaged a point for the hosts from close range.

Separated by two points and with just two Eredivisie victories apiece this term – NEC Nijmegen and FC Groningen couldn’t be separated when the two came head to head at De Goffertstadion on Saturday evening.

The visitors looked to be on course for only their second away victory in the league this season when former Excelsior marksman, Tom van Weert put Ernest Faber’s men ahead with just twelve minutes left to play. However, Peter Hyballa’s side earned a share of the spoils just five minutes later when 17-year-old, Ferdi Kadioglu rescued a point for the hosts.

While there were no goals in Saturday’s late fixture between PEC Zwolle and Roda JC at the MAC3PARK Stadion, the point proved priceless for the visitors who (temporarily) moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of Go Ahead Eagles. The stalemate also saw Yannis Anastasiou’s men extend their recent unbeaten run four matches following a dire opening to the campaign which saw the Kerkrade outfit fail to record a single victory in their opening nine games of the season in all competitions.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action began at the Stadion Galgenwaard where FC Utrecht extended their recent unbeaten streak to five matches in all competitions by dispatching struggling Excelsior who arrived in Utrecht on the back of a six game losing streak of their own – goals from Yassin Ayoub and Nacer Barazite just after the half time break setting the hosts on their way to victory despite a late Stanley Elber’s strike seven minutes from time for the visitors.

Ajax arrived at the AFAS Stadion for their North Holland derby with AZ Alkmaar unbeaten in their last 14 games in all competitions and having all but secured progression to the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League following victory over Celta Vigo on Thursday.

John van den Brom’s men meanwhile, welcomed their visitors from Amsterdam unbeaten in their last three matches in all competitions following a goalless draw in Tel Aviv on Thursday and very nearly took the lead with just four minutes gone when Joel Veltman turned the ball against the frame of his own goal in an attempt to clear a dangerous cross from Alireza Jahanbakhsh after the Iranian had intercepted a sloppy piece of distribution from Ajax ‘keeper, Andre Onana.

However, the hosts did take the lead nine minutes later when a Levi Garcia cross was inadvertently redirected by Veltman into the path of an unmarked Wout Weghorst who gleefully slotted the ball past the exposed Onana to notch his fifth league goal of the campaign.

Despite the visitor’s recent good run of form on all fronts, Peter Bosz has had to weather a number of off-field issues which has seen both Anwar El Ghazi and Nemanja Gudelj suspended by the club for various infractions, yet, following a poor first half display, de Godenzonen re-emerged for the second period a different side altogether and equalised just two minutes after the resumption – Amin Younes, having intercepted a poor pass out of defence by Stijn Wuytens, slotting in Chelsea loanee, Bertrand Traore who lifted the ball over AZ ‘keeper, Sergio Rochet to level the score.

With the momentum of the match having shifted in favour of the away side, Younes was heavily involved once more when the visitors took the lead just after the hour mark – Lasse Schone picking out the German with a perfectly weighted through ball before the 23-year-old was denied twice in quick succession by the reflexes of Rochet who was eventually beaten at the third time of asking by Ajax skipper, Davy Klaassen.

However, with the hosts seemingly out for the count, John van den Brom’s charges suddenly got off the mat to grab an equaliser – a long ball from Ron Vlaar finding Jahanbakhsh with sufficient time and space on the right to pick out an unmarked Weghorst whose second goal of the game earned AZ an unlikely share of the spoils with eleven minutes to play.

Elsewhere, Heracles came out on top in a meeting of two out of form sides at the GelreDome on Sunday afternoon.

Having fallen behind to a Ricky van Wolfswinkel strike twelve minutes into the second half, John Stegeman’s side, who hadn’t tasted success in the Eredivisie since a home success over Willem II on 14^th August remarkably turned the score line on its head to secure all three points against a Vitesse side who came into this encounter without a win in their last three league matches – Brahim Darri getting the visitors back on level terms just after the hour mark before Samuel Armenteros secured the win from the spot.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in remarkable fashion at De Adelaarshorst where bottom-of-the-table, Go Ahead Eagles ended Feyenoord’s incredible 22-match unbeaten run that had stretched all the way back to February – Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men having last tasted defeat in the Eredivisie at the hands of PEC Zwolle on Valentine’s Day.

Following a tough trip to the Ukraine to face Zorya which, despite having been reduced to ten men following the first half dismissal of Eric Botteghin, yielded a valuable point that edged Feyenoord closer to the latter stages of the UEFA Europa League, the league leaders arrived in Deventer without a number of familiar faces including Tonny Vilhena, who lost his mother earlier in the week and ‘keeper Brad Jones, whose injury saw an Eredivisie debut handed to Swedish ‘stopper, Par Hansson.

The visitor’s recent European excursions and unfamiliar starting line-up perhaps contributed to a rare indifferent performance from the previously all-conquering Rotterdam giants which saw Hans de Koning’s Eagles, who came into this encounter off the back of four straight defeats in all competitions, grow in confidence as the match wore on and deservedly take the lead on the half hour mark when Darren Maatsen picked the pocket of Jan-Arie van der Heijden on the edge of the visitor’s area before squaring the ball across the face of Hansson’s goal for an unmarked Jarchinio Antonia add the ultimately decisive finish.

RESULTS

Sparta Rotterdam 3-1 SC Heerenveen

ADO Den Haag 1-0 Willem II

NEC Nijmegen 1-1 FC Groningen

PSV Eindhoven 1-1 FC Twente

PEC Zwolle 0-0 Roda JC

FC Utrecht 2-1 Excelsior

AZ Alkmaar 2-2 AFC Ajax

Vitesse Arnhem 1-2 Heracles

Go Ahead Eagles 1-0 Feyenoord

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