Hot on the heels of an eventful week of cup action, the tenth round of Eredivisie action got underway on Friday evening in Enschede where, despite having secured a place in the final 16 of the KNVB Beker following a three-goal victory over Ereste Divisie outfit, FC Eindhoven on Tuesday evening, FC Twente found themselves on the end of a three-goal hammering at the hands of a resurgent Excelsior.

There was little indication of what was to come when Fredrik Jensen got the jump on Jurgen Mattheij before hitting the by-line and pulling the ball back for Tom Boere to tap in what was the 24-year-old forward’s third goal in his last two games – the former FC Oss marksman having bagged a brace in the cup on Tuesday evening, to open the scoring for the hosts with just two minutes on the clock.

Despite winning both of his games since stepping in to take temporary charge of first team affairs following the resignation of Rene Hake just over a week earlier, a third win in as many outings would ultimately prove elusive for interim coach, Marino Pusic and his side who found themselves back on level terms when a Hicham Faik free kick from well outside the area left Jorn Brondeel grasping at thin air four minutes before the break.

Despite failing to register a single home victory this term, Mitchell van der Gaag’s men came into this encounter unbeaten on their travels this season and that sequence would be extended further when first, Milan Massop rose highest to head a Faik corner from the right past Brondeel sixteen minutes from time before an unmarked Khalid Karami popped up to slam home a Mike van Duinen cross from just inside the area with ten to go to put the seal on a fourth away win from five this term and move the tiny Rotterdam-based outfit to the fringes of the UEFA Europa League play-off places ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Kerkrade where reigning champions, Feyenoord were left frustrated after being held by struggling Roda JC.

Despite their recent struggles, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side looked to be on track to secure their first win in the league since a four-goal romp in Alkmaar at the start of the month when Steven Berghuis’ speculative effort from well outside the area took a wicked deflection off Tsiy-William Ndenge that proved sufficient to wrong-foot Hidde Jurjus with just eleven minutes on the clock.

However, the visitors, who came into this encounter eight points adrift of top-of-the-table PSV Eindhoven, failed to build on their early advantage and just six minutes later found themselves back on level terms when Feyenoord loanee, Simon Gustafson slipped in Dani Schahin with a perfectly timed through-ball for the German striker to turn Karim El Ahmadi inside out and slip the ball beneath the onrushing Brad Jones to ultimately secure a point that lifted the struggling hosts off the foot of the table.

In a game that failed to produce much in the way of chances for either side thereafter it was the visitors who came closest to taking all three points when a Sam Larsson free kick shaved the outside of Jurjus’ left hand upright twenty minutes in.

Meanwhile, in a meeting of two sides looking to put distance between themselves and the bottom three, it was hosts, Heracles who emerged with all three points to pull themselves level on points with guests, VVV Venlo after hitting Maurice Steijn’s side for three at the Polman Stadion.

The hosts were quickly out of the blocks and could have taken the lead with just thirteen minutes gone when a curling right footed effort from just outside the area by Jamiro Monteiro cannoned off the foot of Lars Unnerstall’s left hand upright before two goals in the space of four minutes set John Stegeman’s side on the road to victory when first, a marauding run down the left by Brandley Kuwas resulted in the home side taking the lead in the strangest of ways when the 25-year-old’s low drive deceived the visitor’s German ‘keeper at his near post with 35 minutes gone before Kristoffer Peterson picked up where Kuwas left off by outpacing the under-siege, Moreno Rutten down the left before unleashing a low drive that left the former Fortuna Dusseldorf ‘keeper red in the face as the ball squirmed between his legs on its way into the back of the net to double the home side’s advantage five minutes before the break.

Things might have been different for the away side had Lennart Thy’s volley from the midway inside the area following a Torino Hunte cross from the left shortly after the interval found the net instead of the foot of Bram Castro’s right hand upright.

However, despite making a speciality out of staging late comebacks since their return to the Dutch top flight, when Peterson headed home his second of the evening from close range after Unnerstall could only parry a dipping Kuwas drive from well outside the area into the path of the 22-year-old Swede twenty one minutes from time, any thoughts the visitors may have harboured of staging yet another fightback were put firmly on ice.

Ajax arrived in Tilburg riding a four-match winning streak in all competitions that had seen them find the net on a remarkable sixteen occasions and Marcel Keizer’s troops could have taken a huge stride towards a fifth successive victory late in the first half only for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to see his header come back off Mattijs Branderhorst’s left hand upright after the veteran marksman had been picked out by a pinpoint Hakim Ziyech in-swinger from the right.

However, despite missing talismanic Spanish forward, Fran Sol – who underwent surgery to remove a tumour earlier in the week, it was hosts, Willem II who edged ahead ten minutes into the second half when referee, Dennis Higler ruled Lasse Schone guilty of pulling back Thom Haye just inside the area leaving Slovenian forward, Etien Velikonja to step up and send Andre Onana the wrong way from the resultant spot kick.

Having been at fault for the home side’s opening goal, Schone took it upon himself to claw his side back into the match with a deceptive long range drive from just outside the area that left Branderhorst rooted to the spot twenty minutes from time.

Despite once more being named on the bench, Siem de Jong has been in a rich vein of goal-scoring form of late – the Dutch international having come off the bench to add a touch of the emphatic to the score line in Ajax’s four-goal victory at De Kuip last Sunday before bagging a brace in his side’s stroll against Amsterdam –based amateur outfit, De Dijk on Wednesday evening and, having replaced Donny van de Beek just after the hour, the 28-year-old was once on hand to bag his fourth goal in his last three outings when a Huntelaar cut-back found the man who arrived from Newcastle United at the end of August unmarked just inside the area with time and space to stroke the ball into the corner of Branderhorst’s net.

The result was put beyond doubt a minute into added time when David Neres capped another impressive personal display by seizing upon some poor handling by the host’s 23-year-old ‘keeper to bag the visitor’s third of the night after Branderhorst failed to hold onto a low Huntelaar drive from midway inside the area to leave Keizer’s resurgent troops two points off PSV Eindhoven ahead of the league leaders’ clash with Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday afternoon.

At the same time, PEC Zwolle kept the top two in sight by seeing off the challenge of ADO Den Haag at the MAC3PARK Stadion.

Having lost just once in all competitions this term, John van ‘t Schip’s side have been a revelation since the 53-year-old took up the coaching reins from Ron Jans over the summer and when a deflected through-ball from Ryan Thomas fell invitingly at the feet of Piotr Parzyszek, the 24-year-old Polish forward’s rising drive from the edge of the area set the home side on course for their third win on the bounce with just seven minutes on the clock.

Indeed, despite being taken to extra time by Tweede Divisie outfit, Kozakken Boys on Tuesday evening the home side showed few signs of fatigue and the result was never really in doubt after stand-out performer, Younes Namli bagged his second in as many games – the 23-year-old capping a marauding run by placing his low drive beyond the reach of Robert Zwinkels in the visitor’s goal to double the host’s advantage just four minutes later.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the GelreDome where a brace a-piece from Hirving Lozano and Jürgen Locadia helped PSV Eindhoven restore their five-point lead at the top of the Eredivisie standings at the expense of hosts, Vitesse Arnhem.

Just eighteen minutes had elapsed when a marauding Joshua Brenet slipped in Hirving Lozano who, in breaking the deadlock with a well-placed low finish, also made a little piece of history – the Mexican international becoming the first player to score in seven of his first eight Eredivisie matches.

However, it wouldn’t be all plain sailing for the league leaders who, despite dominating much of the opening half, found themselves back on level terms just before the break when the unlucky Jürgen Locadia skewed his intended clearance beyond a static Jeroen Zoet and into the back of his own net via the foot of the Dutch international ‘keeper’s left hand upright following an Alexander Büttner corner from the left in the 45^th minute.

Yet, following the break, it would take Locadia just four minutes to make amends – the mercurial forward unleashing an unstoppable right footed drive from well outside the area to leave former PSV ‘keeper, Remko Pasveer rooted to the spot.

The 23-year-old then linked up with Lozano to bag the visitor’s third seven minutes later – Locadia drifting in from the left and cutting inside Fankaty Dabo before curling the ball beyond the reach of Pasveer from just inside the area, before the Mexican bagged his second of the afternoon by capitalising on a poor clearance by Matt Miazga to beat an exposed Pasveer from close range just before the hour mark.

Despite Chelsea loanee, Mason Mount finding the net just four minutes later with a delightfully taken volley following a pinpoint through ball from Dabo – a minute after the 18-year-old had come on to replace Thulani Serero, there was to be no comeback for the hosts who now turn their attention to a must-win encounter with Zulte-Waregem in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening.

Having begun the day bottom of the pile after previous incumbents, Roda secured an unlikely point at home to reigning champions, Feyenoord on Saturday evening, Sparta Rotterdam, despite being reduced to ten men late on, managed to hold on to ultimately edge out visitors, Groningen for a victory that saw Alex Pastoor’s side not only move off the foot of the table but out of the bottom three altogether.

The home side began the match in determined fashion and, despite seeing Samir Memisevic go close to breaking the deadlock with just eleven minutes on the clock when the Bosnian defender’s looping header following a Ritsu Doan corner from the right forced Roy Kortsmit to paw the ball onto his own crossbar, the hosts edged ahead twenty two minutes in when Robert Mühren was left with the simplest of finishes – the man on loan from Zulte-Waregem poking the ball into an empty net after Sergio Padt could only parry Deroy Duarte’s downward header at the back post into the 28-year-old’s path.

The hosts went close to doubling their advantage just two minutes later in the most unusual of circumstances when, in his attempt to intercept a Loris Brogno cross from the right, Memisevic unwittingly struck Padt’s left hand upright with the Groningen ‘keeper left rooted to the spot.

However, having lost five games on the bounce prior to securing a vital point in their clash with local rivals, Excelsior last time out, the hosts once more had that sinking feeling when Ludovit Reis restored parity by capping a marauding run with a well struck drive from range that left Kortsmit grasping at thin air nine minutes before the break.

Yet, when referee, Bas Nijhuis pointed to the spot after adjudging Memisevic to have nudged Mühren over in the box, it was left to Loris Brogno to step up and beat Padt from the resultant spot kick and restore the host’s advantage in the 43^rd minute after which the home side would ultimately hang on to secure just their second league victory of the campaign.

However, things could have been different for the visitors had Groningen substitute, Lars Veldwijk found the net instead of seeing his right footed effort cannon back off the foot of Kortsmit’s right hand upright in the first minute of added time at the end of the game before fellow replacement, Jesper Drost then saw his looping header strike the Sparta ‘keeper’s crossbar just seconds later.

Even the late dismissal of second half substitute, Mark Veenhoven, who was given his marching orders in the fourth minute of added time by Nijhuis after the 19-year-old sent Veldwijk tumbling with a reckless challenge from behind as the Groningen substitute appeared to be away and clear, failed to prevent the hosts securing a priceless victory in their battle to avoid the drop.

Meanwhile, a Nick Venema effort twelve minutes from time saw FC Utrecht stop the rot to earn a point at home to struggling NAC Breda.

Despite taking the lead through a well taken volley by skipper, Willem Janssen following a Zakaria Labyad corner from the right nineteen minutes in, the home side, who came into this encounter having lost three of their last four games in all competitions, saw their lead disappear just three minutes later when Manchester City loanee, Thierry Ambrose diverted an incisive pass from another man on loan from the blue half of Manchester, Angelino, into the path of Mounir El Allouchi, who raced through to draw the visitors back onto level terms.

Having fired Breda to promotion last term, Cyriel Dessers very nearly came back to haunt his old club when the former NAC forward saw his header come back off Nigel Bertrams’ left hand upright shortly before the half hour mark.

Having been bundled out of the KNVB Beker by newly promoted VVV Venlo on Wednesday evening, things went from bad to worse for Erik ten Hag’s side three minutes after the restart when Ambrose picked out an unmarked Giovanni Korte to edge Stijn Vreven’s side ahead when the 24-year-old’s sliding effort at the back post was adjudged by referee, Christiaan Bax to have marginally crossed the line before being clawed away by home ‘keeper, David Jensen.

The home side were again frustrated by the woodwork eighteen minutes from time when Janssen saw his header come back off the bar following a corner from the left.

However, just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, 18-year-old forward, Nick Venema was on hand to spare the home side’s blushes by capping a swift Labyad-led counter attack by rolling the ball into an empty net after the 24-year-old had drawn the attentions of an exposed Bertrams to leave the young relacement with the simplest of finishes and ten Hag’s men might have snatched all three points nine minutes from time only for Janssen to see a second header cannon back off the NAC ‘keeper’s crossbar eight minutes from time.

In a game that could have gone either way, the final chance fell to the visitors who very nearly found a winner in the most unusual of circumstances when substitute, Paolo Fernandez’s cross from the left was unwittingly diverted against the foot of Jensen’s left hand upright by Utrecht replacement, Mark van der Maarel in the third minute of added time.

The tenth round of Eredivisie action was concluded in Friesland where a late double from Guus Til saw AZ Alkmaar come from behind against hosts, Heerenveen to take all three points at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Despite coming into this encounter on the back of four straight defeats in all competitions the hosts were out of the blocks quickly and looked to be on track to record their first win since an away success against Willem II at the end of September when Real Madrid loanee, Martin Ødegaard teed up 20-year-old, Michel Vlap to open the scoring in the twenty first minute following a neat give and go between the pair just inside the area.

However, Jurgen Streppel’s side would not only find themselves pegged back seventeen minutes from time when a Jonas Svensson cut-back from the by-line found Guus Til who forced the ball home from the edge of the box, but ultimately left empty handed when a low cross from Alireza Jahanbakhsh found the 19-year-old unmarked at the back post to bag his second of the match and fourth of the season in the 90^th minute.

Results: Week 10

FC Twente 1-3 Excelsior

Roda JC 1-1 Feyenoord

Willem II 1-3 AFC Ajax

Heracles Almelo 3-0 VVV Venlo

PEC Zwolle 2-0 ADO Den Haag

Vitesse Arnhem 2-4 PSV Eindhoven

Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 FC Groningen

FC Utrecht 2-2 NAC Breda

SC Heerenveen 1-2 AZ Alkmaar

 

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Following another tough week for the Netherlands’ representatives in continental competition, the ninth round of action in the Dutch top flight got underway on Friday evening at the Noordlease Stadion where visitors, Willem II made it two wins on the bounce with a lone strike from Fran Sol ultimately proving enough to see off undermanned hosts, FC Groningen.

Buoyed by picking up just their second league win of the campaign last time out against FC Twente, Erwin van de Looi’s side were out of the blocks quickly and might have broken the deadlock in the third minute only for Thom Haye to see his long range effort from well outside the area cannon off Sergio Padt’s crossbar and away to safety.

Two bookings in the space of four first half minutes for Groningen’s Ajdin Hrustic not only led to the Australian international’s dismissal with just twenty three minutes on the clock – referee, Allard Lindhout being left with little choice but to award the 21-year-old a second yellow card when, having earlier been booked for a late challenge on Konstantinos Tsimikas,  Hrustic then clearly handled a long ball from Samir Memisevic before putting it petulantly into the back of the net, it also proved to be the turning point as the midfielder’s sending off handed the away side an advantage which they would exploit by taking the lead, and ultimately all three points just ten minutes later when Fran Sol slid home a low Fernando Lewis cross from the right after the 24-year-old had been sent clear by an incisive ball from Liverpool loaneee, Pedro Chirivella, to notch his sixth goal of the campaign and leave the away side level on points with their hosts come the final whistle.

The away side might have added to the margin of their victory in the second half but van de Looi’s men were denied on two occasions by the woodwork when first, centre half, Jordens Peters saw a side-footed effort following a corner from Jop van der Linden cannon off the foot of Padt’s right hand upright four minutes after the restart before Haye was then denied by the frame of the goal for the second time on the night when he saw his goal-bound header turned onto the underside of the crossbar by the Groningen ‘keeper five minutes later following another van der Linden corner from the left.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Rat Verlegh Stadion where visitors, PEC Zwolle temporarily edged into second place in the standings after securing their fifth win of the campaign at the expense of struggling hosts, NAC Breda.

Having come within inches of taking the lead in the 37^th minute when a Younes Namli effort from just outside the box deflected off Menno Koch and onto Mark Birighitti’s left hand upright, John van ‘t Schip’s side took control of the match shortly before the break when referee, Martin van den Kerkhof, having seen Koch blatantly pull back  Mustafa Saymak after the midfielder had robbed the home skipper just inside the host’s area, awarded the away side a penalty, leaving Bram van Polen to dispatch the resultant spot kick in the second minute of added time.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage fourteen minutes from time but, having pounced upon a poor pass from Mounir El Allouchi, Saymak saw his low drive from just inside the area cannon back off Birighitti’s right hand upright.

However, the 24-year-old wasn’t to be denied and eight minutes from time Saymak notched his second of the campaign – side-footing home a Youness Mokhtar cross from the left from just outside the box.

The hosts went close to reducing the arrears in the second minute of added time when Diederik Boer had to be at full stretch to palm a free kick from substitute, Paolo Fernandes onto the bar.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, a late Craig Goodwin effort four minutes from time salvaged a point for Sparta Rotterdam in their derby clash with local rivals Excelsior at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion.

With five points separating the two Rotterdam sides coming into this encounter it was the hosts who, buoyed by bagging all three points last time out in The Hague, took the lead nine minutes into the second half when a Milan Massop effort from just inside the area took a wicked deflection off the outstretched right boot of Sander Fischer.

Mitchell van der Gaag’s men appeared to be on course for a second win in as many games until Australian international, Goodwin lashed home a well-placed free kick to earn the visitors a share of the spoils four minutes from time.

It might have been even better for Alex Pastoor’s side had referee, Siemen Mulder not waved away what looked to be a clear-cut penalty when Excelsior skipper, Ryan Koolwijk sent Ryan Sanusi tumbling inside the area in the third minute of added time.

At the same time ADO Den Haag were putting last week’s slip up at the hands of Excelsior behind them by picking up their fourth win of the season in a clash of two early season surprise packages at De Koel.

With twelve points already in the bag, newly promoted VVV Venlo have been a revelation over the course of the opening eight weeks of the campaign and Maurice Steijn’s side came close to breaking the deadlock with just six minutes on the clock when Werder Bremen loanee, Lennart Thy struck both of Robert Zwinkels’ uprights in quick succession with a curling effort from the edge of the area.

Having narrowly escaped falling behind early in the first half, the away side would emerge for the second with an added spring in their step and would eventually be the ones to edge ahead in the 66^th minute when Tyronne Ebuehi capped a marauding run by hitting the by-line and teeing up Erik Falkenburg who beat Lars Unnerstall with a delightful volley from the edge of the box.

Alfons Groenendijk’s side would seal all three points in the third minute of added time when substitute, Thijmen Goppel brought a long raking ball from Aaron Meijers under control just outside the area before teeing up fellow replacement, Björn Johnsen, for the Norwegian forward’s third of the campaign.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Enschede where hosts, FC Twente got back to winning ways at the expense of bottom-of-the-table, Roda JC.

Following Rene Hake’s resignation on Wednesday, interim coach, Marino Pusic saw his troops handed the opportunity to put last week’s defeat in Tilburg behind them with just twenty five minutes on the clock when referee, Serdar Gözübüyük awarded the home side a penalty after seeing Chris Kum send Oussama Assaidi tumbling inside the area, leaving the Moroccan international to get up and dust himself down before slamming home the resultant spot kick.

The 29-year-old would double the home side’s advantage twelve minutes into the second half when a Tom Boere cross from the right found Luciano Slagveer on the edge of the box who, despite being in an offside position when the ball was played, then teed up Assaidi for his fourth of the campaign.

Despite coming into this encounter on the back of two straight victories in the league and level on points with hosts, Twente, Robert Molenaar’s side were largely second best throughout and fell further behind seventeen minutes from time when Tom Boere headed a   corner from the right against Hidde Jurjus’ crossbar with the rebound falling invitingly for an unmarked Peet Bijen to stab the ball into an unguarded net from close range to round off a victory that saw the home side climb to twelfth in the standings.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Philips Stadion where top-of-the-table, PSV Eindhoven recorded a sixth straight victory in all competitions by hitting 10-man Heracles for three.

Having missed last week’s away victory in Venlo with an elbow injury sustained while away on international duty with Mexico, it took the fit-again Hirving Lozano just eighteen minutes to announce his return by breaking the deadlock after being slipped in on goal by an incisive through ball from Jorrit Hendrix.

Despite dominating proceedings it took the home side until twelve minutes from time to double their advantage – Mauro Junior heading a Hendrix cross from the left into the path of skipper, Marco van Ginkel for the man on loan from Chelsea to stab the ball home from close range.

Things soon went from bad to worse for John Stegeman’s side when a shove from Robin Pröpper on PSV substitute, Albert Gudmundsson as the centre half endeavoured to safeguard the ball back to his goalkeeper resulted in the 24-year-old being issued a straight red card by referee, Ed Janssen before van Ginkel stepped up to claim his second and the home side’s third of the afternoon from the resultant spot kick.

PSV’S victory meant that reigning champions, Feyenoord and last season’s UEFA Europa League finalists, Ajax went into Sunday afternoon’s Klassieker at De Kuip eight points adrift of Phillip Cocu’s side.

Following a goalless opening period, an understandably tense and tight affair suddenly sprang to life five minutes after the restart when David Neres capitalised upon a loose pass by Sofyan Amrabat just outside the host’s area to send Klaas-Jan Huntelaar through for the veteran marksman to lash the ball beyond an onrushing Brad Jones and notch his ninth goal in the history of this storied fixture – a goal which saw his name etched alongside Johan Cruyff, Jaap Barendregt and Marco van Basten, who each also achieved the feat.

However, when Matthijs de Ligt sent a marauding Ridgeciano Haps tumbling in the area right under the nose of referee, Danny Makkelie the official had little choice but to point to the spot. Yet, despite topping the Eredivisie goal-scoring charts last term, Nicolai Jørgensen saw his spot kick saved by Andre Onana while Jens Toornstra could only put the rebound into the crowd.

Nevertheless, the Danish international’s miss proved to be just a temporary reprieve for Marcel Keizer’s side, as Jørgensen went some way to redeeming himself by capitalising on a mix-up between Onana and de Ligt just outside the visitor’s area to pick out the untracked run of Toornstra who exorcised his own demons by slamming the ball high into the roof of the Cameroon international’s net.

Having seen their hopes of continuing in any form of continental competition beyond the winter break effectively ended following defeat at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening, the home side came close to getting their season back on track just five minutes later when a Tonny Vilhena effort from just inside the box shaved the outside of Onana’s right hand upright.

However, it was the visitors who would restore their advantage nineteen minutes from time when substitute, Kasper Dolberg put what has been an underwhelming campaign to date behind him to turn the game the way of the away side by posting what was just the 20-year-old’s first league goal of the season when, having held off the attentions of Haps to hit the by-line following an incisive through-ball from Hakim Ziyech, Neres picked out the untracked run of Ajax’s Danish starlet, who duly slotted the ball past an exposed Jones from just inside the box.

With Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s injury-ravaged side desperately searching for an equaliser, another replacement, Siem de Jong, having been sent clear by a well-timed through ball from Neres, claimed the his first goal since returning to the club at the end of August two minutes from time to effectively end any thoughts of a comeback from the hosts before Dolberg rubbed salt into the defending champions’ wounds by claiming his second and the visitor’s fourth of the afternoon in the 90^th minute when a long diagonal pass from Nick Viergever set the young Dane away to poke the ball over an onrushing Jones.

At the same time, AZ Alkmaar ended a run of three games without a win by hitting FC Utrecht for three at the AFAS Stadion.

The hosts were out of the blocks quickly and took the lead with just twenty one minutes on the clock when Alireza Jahanbakhsh teed up Teun Koopmeiners for the 19-year-old to drill the ball low and hard beyond the outstretched arm of David Jensen in the visitor’s net from well outside the area to post his first goal in the Dutch top flight in just what was just his second appearance at first team level.

The visitors came close to restoring parity when, having beaten Marco Bizot to a Robin van der Meer cross from the left,  Lukas Görtler saw his looping header come back off the top of the stranded ‘keeper’s crossbar eight minutes before the break.

Having been somewhat fortunate to see their lead remain intact, Jahanbakhsh very nearly doubled the home side’s advantage when he saw his speculative drive from well outside the area cannon off Jensen’s crossbar a minute before the break.

Galvanised by their half time lead, the hosts hit the woodwork for a second time seven minutes after the resumption when Wout Weghorst saw his right footed drive from just outside the area rattle Jensen’s left hand upright with the visitor’s Danish stopper left rooted to the spot.

Having gone close to adding to the home side’s lead just before the interval, Jahanbakhsh would eventually double the host’s advantage shortly after the hour mark with a crisp half volley when a Thomas Ouwejan cross from the left found the unchecked run of the Iranian international midway inside the visitor’s area before the 24-year-old rounded off a stand-out performance by slipping in Joris van Overeem, who bagged the host’s third of the afternoon with a neat outside of the foot finish ten minutes from time.

The ninth round of Eredivisie action was concluded in Friesland where, fresh from picking up a first point in group play in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening, Vitesse Arnhem hit freefalling Heerenveen for four.

Despite having begun the season in impressive fashion, Jurgen Streppel’s side came into this encounter on the back of two straight defeats and when Navarone Foor caught the hosts sleeping by latching onto a knock-down from Tim Matavz on the edge of the area before drawing an exposed Martin Hansen and picking out Milot Rashica at the back post for the Kosovar international to slide the ball into an empty net with just seventeen minutes on the clock, the home side may have felt like history was repeating itself.

Indeed, having shipped seven goals in their last two league outings ahead of this encounter the home side’s confidence was noticeably brittle and Steppel’s men soon found themselves with a proverbial mountain to climb when Bryan Linssen muscled his way in at the back post to side-foot a Frankaty Dabo cross from the right past a helpless Hansen and double the visitor’s advantage nine minutes before the break.

Just five minutes into the second half things went from bad to worse for the hosts when a poor pass from Kik Pierie on half-way led to a swift counter attack from the visitors being rounded off by Linssen picking out Foor on the edge of the box for the 25-year-old to squeeze the ball underneath Hansen and into the back of the net for the away side’s third of the afternoon.

Despite Reza Ghoochannejhad seeing his goal-bound header cleared off the line by Chelsea loanee, Matt Miazga six minutes later, a comeback never really seemed to be on the cards for the hosts and any lingering hopes of a fight-back harboured by the home faithful were dispelled eighteen minutes from time when Matavz slid home the away side’s fourth of the afternoon after Denzel Dumfries’ intended clearance fell invitingly for the Slovenian international following a free kick from Alexander Büttner.

Results: Week 9

FC Groningen 0-1 Willem II

NAC Breda 0-2 PEC Zwolle

Excelsior 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam

VVV Venlo 0-2 ADO Den Haag

FC Twente 3-0 Roda JC

PSV Eindhoven 3-0 Heracles Almelo

Feyenoord 1-4 AFC Ajax

AZ Alkmaar 3-0 FC Utrecht

SC Heerenveen 0-4 Vitesse Arnhem

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Following a week to forget for its representatives in continental competition, the seventh week of action in the Dutch top flight got underway on Friday evening with FC Twente securing local bragging rights by emerging victorious over local rivals, Heracles Almelo in the Twentse Derby in front of a raucous home crowd at De Grolsch Veste.

Despite coming up short in Groningen last time out, Rene Hake’s side have shown signs of life in recent weeks by putting together back-to-back wins in in league and cup after opening the campaign with four successive defeats and it was the hosts who were quickest out of the blocks here with Fredrik Jansen opening the scoring with just two minutes on the clock – the 20-year-old sliding the ball home from close range after Haris Vučkić had seen his goal-bound effort from just inside the area cleared off the line by Lerin Duarte, who then prevented the host’s summer acquisition from Newcastle United from doubling their advantage by again clearing the ball off the line eleven minutes before the break.

However, having made the short trip to Enschede on the back of a two-match winning streak in all competitions, Heracles found their way back onto level terms when Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee, Paul Gladon headed home a Brahim Darri cross from the left seven minutes into the second half.

Despite finding themselves pegged back, it was the hosts who would ultimately secure what was just a second league win of the campaign as well as local bragging rights when substitute, Danny Holla curled a well-placed free kick from just outside the area into the top right hand corner of Bram Castro’s net fourteen minutes from time.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Rat Verlegh Stadion where a lone strike from Tom Beugelsdijk ten minutes from time saw in-form ADO Den Haag make it three wins from their last five matches in all competitions at the expense of hosts, NAC Breda, who failed to build upon their remarkable victory at reigning champions, Feyenoord last time out.

However, things could have been different had the home side not been frustrated by the woodwork twice in quick succession in the eighth minute – Giovanni Korte’s curling effort from just inside the area coming back off the underside of Robert Zwinkels’ bar and onto his left hand upright before Mounir El Allouchi’s attempted follow-up then cannoned back off the ADO ‘keeper’s other post.

Sixteen minutes from time it was the turn of the visitors to be frustrated by the woodwork – half time substitute Erik Falkenburg redirecting a Abdenasser El Khayati corner from the right onto Mark Birighitti’s crossbar.

However, Falkenburg’s miss proved only a temporary reprieve for Stijn Vreven’s side as it would be the visitors who would eventually make the breakthrough and take all three points ten minutes from time when Beugelsdijk escaped the attentions of would-be marker, Karol Mets, to stab home an El Khayati cross from the right at the back post.

There was a five-goal thriller at the MAC3PARK Stadion where hosts, PEC Zwolle left it late to turn the tables on undermanned guests, FC Groningen and bag all three points.

Despite having had Reuben Jenssen to thank for keeping the game goalless when the 29-year-old was on hand to clear a goal-bound strike from Stef Nijland off the line with just five minutes gone, it was the visitors who, having arrived in Zwolle on the back of a two-game winning streak in all competitions, would make the breakthrough on the quarter hour mark through Japanese starlet, Ritsu Doan, who showed incredible composure to poke the ball through Diederik Boer’s legs and into the back of the net after being found unmarked at the back post by Mimoun Mahi.

However, it took the hosts, who have lost just once this term, just four minutes to restore parity when Nijland – whose father, Hans, is the Groningen CEO, was in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball into an unguarded net after visiting ‘keeper, Sergio Padt was left stranded after having been called into action twice in quick succession to first deny Younes Namli from range before then preventing Mustafa Saymak from putting away the rebound.

As the game continued to swing this way and that, the visitors restored their advantage in controversial circumstances ten minutes into the second half when Tom van Weert’s close-range header was, despite being fielded in routine fashion by Boer, adjudged by referee, Pol van Boekel – in conjunction with his assistant, to have crossed the line.

Despite being incensed by the decision, on the hour mark John van ‘t Schip’s side were back on level terms once more when New Zealand international, Ryan Thomas popped up at the back post to half-volley the ball past Padt as the away side struggled to clear their lines following a corner from the right.

With the game seemingly set to end with honours even the match suddenly swung in the favour of the home side three minutes from time when van Boekel issued Groningen goal-scorer, van Weert a straight red card after the former Excelsior marksman recklessly clipped the heels of Dirk Marcellis.

Despite finding themselves reduced to ten men, Ernest Faber’s side looked to have escaped with a point until Youness Mokhtar popped up to snatch all three for the hosts in the third minute of added time when Piotr Parzyszek cushioned a Marcellis cross from the right for the in-form 26-year-old to half-volley the ball beyond Padt from just outside the box.

Having scored eleven goals in their last two outings in all competitions, league leaders, PSV Eindhoven continued their recent free-scoring form by hitting struggling Willem II for four on Saturday evening at the Philips Stadion to move four points clear at the top of the standings ahead of Sunday’s fixtures.

Following a goalless opening period that saw the visitors carve out the majority of the chances, Phillip Cocu’s charges re-emerged with renewed purpose after the break and broke the deadlock just four minutes into the second half – Steven Bergwijn releasing Hirving Lozano with a deflected through-ball which afforded the Mexican international the time and space to beat an onrushing Timon Wellenreuther from just inside the area.

The home side would double their advantage six minutes later when Marco van Ginkel’s back post header following a Lozano cross from the right found an unmarked Gastón Pereiro, who had the simple task of nodding the ball into the net from a few yards out.

Having set up the host’s second, the PSV skipper was then on hand to tee up Lozano for his second and the home side’s third just three minutes later with a lovely half-volley that found the head of the 22-year-old just outside the box before the man on loan from Chelsea rounded off the night’s scoring by sending Wellenreuther the wrong way from the spot twenty minutes from time after referee, Jeroen Manschot ruled what appeared to be a seemingly routine block at the feet of Jürgen Locadia by the visitor’s German ‘keeper, a foul.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion where the fairy tale continued for new boys VVV Venlo – Maurice Steijn’s men recording their third league win since returning to the top flight of Dutch football at the expense of hosts, Excelsior.

Having snapped a dismal run of form that had seen Mitchell van der Gaag’s men lose four of their last five outings last time out in Alkmaar, the hosts were looking to record back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

However, it was the visitors who continued to make light of their transition from the second tier to the first by taking the lead in the 32^nd minute through Clint Leemans, who, having pounced upon a poor clearance by Excelsior ‘keeper, Ögmundur Kristinsson just outside the host’s area, lobbed the ball over the stranded Iceland international and into the back of an unguarded net.

The away side, who, aside from securing passage through to the 2^nd round of the KNVB Beker at the expense of fourth tier amateur outfit, SV Blauw Geel ‘38, had gone four games without a win themselves prior to making the trip to Rotterdam, made sure of all three points twenty minutes from time when Ralf Seuntjens popped up at the back post to head home a Leemans free kick.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the AFAS Stadion where injury-ravaged Feyenoord returned to form by hitting hosts, AZ Alkmaar for four.

However, things could have been different had an early Wout Weghorst goal not been ruled out by referee, Bas Nijhuis whose assistant mistakenly deemed Joris van Overeem to have strayed into an offside position when replays clearly confirmed the 23-year-old to have been level with former team mate, Ridgeciano Haps when receiving a long raking pass from Rens van Eijden before teeing up the home side’s in-form forward in the eighth minute.

Having served a domestic ban following his sending off in the loss to PSV Eindhoven, Steven Berghuis wasted little time in announcing his return by putting the visitors into the ascendancy with just eleven minutes gone – Sam Larsson flicking a Jens Toornstra through-ball onto the outstretched left boot of the former AZ man whose resultant volley from just inside the area was later confirmed to have crossed the line after crashing off the underside of Marco Bizot’s crossbar before an onrushing Tonny Vilhena arrived to poke the ball home from close range.

Following a summer of speculation and inactivity it has taken Sam Larsson a fair amount of time to force his way into the plans of coach, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, however, having been handed a first start since making the switch to De Kuip from Friesland at the end of August, the Swedish international continued to press his claim for an extended run in the side when he doubled the visitor’s advantage seven minutes later with a long range drive from just outside the area which capped a mesmerizing run by the talented 24-year-old that had been inadvertently set in motion by a wayward pass from Guus Til on half-way.

With Weghorst having again been denied – this time by a goal-line clearance from Sofyan Amrabat following a Marko Vejinovic corner from the left just after the half hour mark, the visitors effectively put the game to bed four minutes before the break when Berghuis inflicted yet more agony on his old club – the 25-year-old pouncing upon on a poor piece of distribution by Stijn Wuytens before stealing a march on the host’s back line and firing the ball beyond an exposed Bizot to bag his sixth of the campaign.

Having slipped up in front of their own fans at the hands of Excelsior last time out, John van den Brom had been looking for a reaction from his side against the reigning champions. However, having conceded two early goals for the second week in succession, the hosts never really looked like getting back into the game and any lingering thoughts of a come-back were dispelled thirteen minutes into the second half when an unmarked Vilhena slid home a Berghuis cross from the right to leave the defending champions three points adrift of league leaders, PSV ahead of the international break.

Having been hit for seven in front of their own fans by a rampant PSV Eindhoven last time out, FC Utrecht looked set to bounce back in the best possible way on Sunday afternoon when an audacious back-heel from Gyrano Kerk was stabbed home from close range by Cyriel Dessers twenty one minutes from time to put Erik ten Hag’s side on course for all three points at the GelreDome.

Despite bagging a memorable three points at the Amsterdam ArenA a week earlier, Thursday’s trip to the south of France had seen Vitesse Arnhem comprehensively outplayed by Nice in their second UEFA Europa League outing of the campaign.

Yet, Henk Fraser’s side managed to end a demanding week by clawing their way back onto level terms to earn a share of the spoils in the 76^th minute when Chelsea loanee, Mason Mount tucked home a Thomas Bruns cross from the right just two minutes after coming off the bench to replace Bryan Linssen.

At the same time, a David Neres double in the space of three first half minutes earned Ajax’s under-fire coach, Marcel Keizer a stay of execution and set the away side on course for a much needed win at the expense of high-flying Heerenveen in a game which also saw the Eredivisie’s last remaining unbeaten record go up in smoke.

However, things could have been different had 17-year-old centre half, Kik Pierie put the hosts ahead instead of volleying the ball off Andre Onana’s left hand upright following a Martin Ødegaard free kick with thirty three minutes gone.

The home side were again unlucky not to take the lead just two minutes later when a free kick from former Dutch international Stijn Schaars found its way through the visitor’s poorly constructed wall to collide with Onana’s left hand upright.

Having already tumbled out of both European competitions, Ajax’s recent struggles in the league, which saw last season’s UEFA Europa League finalists drop two points in The Hague before losing at home to Vitesse Arnhem last time out had led to speculation that Sunday’s match at the Abe Lenstra Stadion could well be Keizer’s last at the helm.

However, when David Neres put the visitors into the ascendancy in the 38^th minute – having been sent clear by an incisive through-ball from former Heerenveen forward, Klass-Jan Huntelaar, before doubling the away side’s advantage just three minutes later when a flick-on by Huntelaar allowed the 20-year-old Brazilian to steal a march on the host’s rear guard before forcing the ball past an onrushing Martin Hansen, despite all of the home side’s early pressure, Jurgen Streppel’s men were suddenly left staring down the barrel of their first defeat of the campaign.

Buoyed by their two-goal advantage, the visitors emerged for the second half with an added spring in their step and could have added to their lead five minutes after the break only for Donny van de Beek to see his volley from the edge of the box cannon back off Hansen’s crossbar after being picked out by Amin Younes.

However, a third goal did eventually arrive for Keizer’s men when referee, Serdar Gözübüyük awarded the visitors a penalty after seeing Lucas Woudenberg blatantly pull Huntelaar to the ground as the two battled to get on the end of a Hakim Ziyech corner from the left, leaving to Lasse Schone to seal all three points for the away side with a quarter of an hour to play before summer recruit, Maximilian Wöber netted his first for the club following his €7.5 million switch from Rapid Vienna – the centre half capping a goal-mouth scramble by stabbing the ball past Hansen from close range at the third time of asking seven minutes from time.

The seventh round of Eredivisie action was concluded at Het Kasteel where visitors, Roda JC belatedly posted their first points of the season at the seventh time of asking to climb off the foot of the table.

With just a solitary victory over fourth tier outfit, Capelle in the 1^st round of the KNVB Beker to celebrate thus far this season, Robert Molenaar’s troops had found themselves rooted to the foot of the table prior to their clash with fellow strugglers, Sparta Rotterdam – who themselves were looking to snap a run of two successive defeats.

The game itself was ultimately settled when the visitors bagged a pair of goals in the space of six first half minutes – Tsiy William Ndenge heading home an Adil Auassar corner from the right shortly before the half hour mark before Dani Schahin escaped the attentions of Julian Chabot, turned Nicholas Marfelt inside out and drove the ball hard and low past Roy Kortsmit in the home goal to double the away side’s advantage ten minutes before the break.

Despite Robert Muhren pulling a goal back for Alex Pastoor’s side with a well-taken volley just outside the box twelve minutes from time, try as they might, the hosts could not avert a third successive defeat which saw them end the seventh week of action third from bottom.

Results: Week 7

FC Twente 2-1 Heracles Almelo

NAC Breda 0-1 ADO Den Haag

PEC Zwolle 3-2 FC Groningen

PSV Eindhoven 4-0 Willem II

Excelsior 0-2 VVV Venlo

AZ Alkmaar 0-4 Feyenoord

Vitesse Arnhem 1-1 FC Utrecht

SC Heerenveen 0-4 AFC Ajax

Sparta Rotterdam 1-2 Roda JC

 

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Following the thrills and spills of the 1^st round of the KNVB Beker, the sixth round of action in the Dutch top flight belatedly got underway in Tilburg where unbeaten Heerenveen came from behind to take all three points and temporarily go two points clear at the top of the standings.

Despite racing into a twelfth minute lead when Elmo Lieftink slid home a Freek Heerkens cross from the right, hosts, Willem II were ultimately unable to build upon securing their first points of the campaign last time out against rock-bottom, Roda JC – Stijn Schaars bending a beautifully taken free kick from just outside the area beyond the despairing dive of Timon Wellenreuther to get the visitors back onto level terms on the stroke of half time.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Jurgen Streppel’s men re-emerged for the second half with an added spring in their step and found what ultimately proved to be the winner just short of the hour mark through Yuki Kobayashi – visiting skipper, Schaars finding the Japanese international with time and space to beat Wellenreuther with a spectacular effort from just outside the area.

Having seen their 100% start to their Eredivisie title defence go up in smoke last time out in Eindhoven, Feyenoord, who saw off ADO Den Haag in the 1^st round of the KNVB Beker on Wednesday evening, were looking to get their title charge back on track against newly promoted NAC Breda, who were sent tumbling out of the competition at the hands of third tier amateurs, Achilles ’29 on the same night.

However, despite a Jan-Arie van der Heijden header grazing the top of Mark Birighitti’s crossbar eleven minutes in following a Jean-Paul Boëtius corner from the right, incredibly, it was the visitors who would break the deadlock in front of a stunned home crowd – on loan Manchester City forward, Thierry Ambrose heading a Menno Koch flick-on following a high hanging punt into the area from fellow City loanee, Angelino into the path of an unmarked Giovanni Korte for the 24-year-old to slide the ball past an exposed Brad Jones twelve minutes before the break.

Having gone in a goal-down, the home side re-emerged with renewed purpose and went close to restoring parity when Sofyan Amrabat’s diving header cannoned off a stranded Birighitti’s crossbar on the hour mark seconds after the visitor’s Australian stopper had initially denied Feyenoord’s marauding left back, Miquel Nelom with a smart stop at his near post.

However, when referee, Jochem Kamphuis handed the home side a penalty seventeen minutes from time following a coming together between Amrabat and Mounir El Allouchi as the two battled to get onto the end of a corner from the left by second half substitute, Sam Larsson, it appeared as though the hosts were set to restore parity until Michiel Kramer saw his spot-kick saved by the impressive Birighitti, who was then up quickly to deny Tonny Vilhena as he attempted to tuck in the rebound.

Try as they might, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, who make the tricky trip to face unbeaten Serie A leaders, Napoli on Tuesday evening in their latest UEFA Champions League assignment, failed to find an equaliser and, when Feyenoord ‘keeper Jones made an uncharacteristic error with the ball at his feet that allowed Danish substitute, Thomas Enevoldsen to steal in and roll the ball into an empty net three minutes from time it was Stijn Vreven’s side who were able to celebrate the club’s first ever Eredivisie victory over Feyenoord at De Kuip.

At the same time, Heracles left it late to secure their first league win since the opening day of the season.

However, having belatedly secured their first win of the season by hitting fourth tier outfit, Capelle for five in the 1^st round of the KNVB Beker on Wednesday evening, pointless Roda JC arrived in Almelo with renewed confidence and, despite seeing Jamiro Monteiro strike the foot of Hidde Jurjus’ right hand upright with just three minutes gone, it was the away side who took the lead five minutes in when Mitchel Paulissen glanced home an Ard van Peppen cross from the left.

Having gone in at the break trailing, John Stegeman’s side re-emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and were back on level terms just six minutes after the restart – Robin Pröpper volleying home a Monteiro cross from close range just seconds after heading the ball against Jurjus’ right hand upright as the away side struggled to clear their lines following a Brahim Darri corner from the left.

Having snapped a two-game losing streak of their own by dispatching Tweede Divisie side, Rijnsburgse Boys in the cup on Tuesday evening, the hosts continued to press for a winner which eventually arrived in the third minute of added time through second half substitute, Vincent Vermeij – Reuven Niemeijer pulling the ball back for the former De Graafschap forward to poke the ball past ex-team-mate, Jurjus from close range.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in The Hague where a solitary strike from ADO Den Haag’s Abdenasser El Khayati ultimately proved enough to see off the challenge of Sparta Rotterdam – the former QPR midfielder rounding off a swift counter attack by the hosts by bamboozling Sherel Floranus before poking the ball between the Sparta full back’s legs and beyond Roy Kortsmit to bag his third goal in his last three games five minutes into the second half.

Despite being largely second best throughout and having been bundled out of the cup at the hands of Eerste Divisie outfit, RKC Waalwijk on Tuesday evening, a third defeat in as many games may have been avoided for Alex Pastoor’s side had Robert Muhren’s strike from just outside the area fourteen minutes from time found the net instead of the foot of Kortsmit’s left hand upright.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action began with a bang at the Stadion Galgenwaard where undermanned hosts, FC Utrecht were remarkably hit for seven by a rampant PSV Eindhoven.

Despite the end result, it was the hosts who were first to threaten when Cyriel Dessers crashed a half volley off Dutch international ‘keeper, Jeroen Zoet’s crossbar after being sent clear by a long, raking ball from Urby Emanuelson with just nine minutes on the clock.

Having been lucky to escape falling behind just six minutes earlier, the visitors, buoyed by their victory over reigning Eredivisie champions, Feyenoord last time out and galvanised by their title rival’s surprise loss at the hands of NAC Breda the day before, broke the deadlock on the quarter hour – Jürgen Locadia tucking the ball into an empty net after David Jensen had initially done well to deny Hirving Lozano just seconds earlier after the Mexican international had been sent clear by Derrick Luckassen.

However, the home side were back on level terms just six minutes later when referee, Serdar Gözübüyük awarded the hosts a penalty after adjudging Nicolas Isimat-Mirin to have drug fellow countryman, Jean-Christophe Bahebeck to the ground, leaving Zakaria Labyad to step up and tuck away the resultant spot-kick.

Despite finding themselves pegged back, the visitors would restore their advantage five minutes before the break – Locadia capitalising on a poor piece of control by Sander van de Streek to steal in on the left before picking out an unmarked Lozano at the back post for the 22-year-old to roll the ball into an empty net before the Mexican later returned the favour by sending Locadia clear to make it three for the away side four minutes into the second half.

Locadia would claim his hat-trick with twenty two minutes left to play – Jorrit Hendrix releasing the 23-year-old down the right with an incisive through-ball from inside his own half to first out-pace and then beat Sean Klaiber before rifling the ball beyond the outstretched hand of Jensen.

The away side were gifted the opportunity to make it five when referee, Gözübüyük ruled that Edson Braafheid had tripped a marauding Joshua Brenet inside the area leaving PSV skipper, Marco van Ginkel to dispatch the resultant spot-kick ten minutes from time.

Things went from bad to worse for Erik ten Hag’s side who then saw substitute, Giovanni Troupee given his marching orders by Gözübüyük six minutes from time despite having been on the field for just thirteen minutes after the young full back sent Lozano flying in the box as the Mexican attempted to latch onto a through-ball from substitute, Steven Bergwijn, leaving Locadia to convert the resultant spot-kick and claim his fourth of the afternoon and PSV’s sixth.

There was still time for the visitors to inflict yet more misery on their beleaguered hosts – Bergwijn skipping his way through the home side’s ineffectual rear guard to add number seven for Cocu’s men in the 90^th minute, leaving PSV a point clear at the top of the standings.

Elsewhere, newly promoted VVV Venlo came from behind for the third successive week to earn another priceless point, this time at the expense of visitors, PEC Zwolle.

John van ‘t Schip’s side arrived in Limburg on the back of two straight victories in league and cup and took the lead on the half hour mark through Kingsley Ehizibue, who stabbed a Nicolas Freire knock-down from a Youness Mokhtar corner from the left past an exposed Lars Unnerstall from the edge of the box.

However, the resilience of Maurice Steijn’s side that had seen them snatch late draws against both FC Groningen and Vitesse Arnhem in each of their last two league outings came to the fore once more when Clint Leemans’ free-kick from just outside the area found the top right hand corner of Diederik Boer’s net twenty one minutes from time.

The home side might have even snatched all three points with four minutes left to play but, having seized upon a rare moment of indecision by New Zealand international, Ryan Thomas, second half substitute, Vito van Crooij was denied by Boer who stood tall to repel the 21-year-old who seemed set to secure all three points for the home side after having found himself away and clear with only the visitor’s veteran ‘keeper to beat.

At the same time a lone Oussama Idrissi header six minutes into the second half ultimately proved enough to seal all three points for hosts, FC Groningen in their clast with FC Twente at the Noordlease Stadion – the 21-year-old pouncing to nod home Peet Bijen’s attempted block of a Ritsu Doan effort from just outside the box.

Meanwhile, in their second trip to Amsterdam in the space of four days, cup holders Vitesse Arnhem went some way to erasing their shock exit from this year’s competition at the hands of Amsterdam-based fifth tier outfit, AVV Swift on Wednesday evening by inflicting a first home defeat of the campaign on a below par Ajax.

The away side arrived in Amsterdam with a point to prove and took the lead in the 21^st minute through Guram Kashia – the visiting skipper out-muscling, Nick Viergever to head a Thomas Bruns free kick beyond the reach of Andre Onana.

Henk Fraser’s side, who face a tricky trip to Nice – who knocked Ajax out of the 3^rd qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League earlier in the campaign, in their latest UEFA Europa League assignment on Thursday evening, would then double their advantage in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half – Kosovar international, Milot Rashica cutting inside Mitchell Dijks before slamming the ball hard and low past Onana after being sent clear by Tim Matavz.

The home side emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and very nearly clawed one back when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar turned a low Justin Kluivert cross from the right onto the outside of Remko Pasveer’s right hand upright nineteen minutes into the second half.

Despite Viergever eventually cutting the away side’s advantage in half seven minutes from time – the Dutch international ghosting in to head home a Hakim Ziyech cross from close range, the hosts failed to avert a first home defeat in the league since Willem II bagged all three points at the Amsterdam ArenA on 20^th August 2016.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action was concluded at the AFAS Stadion where two early spot-kicks by Luigi Bruins saw Excelsior snap a run of five games without a win in all competitions by claiming all three points from their clash with in-form AZ Alkmaar.

The game was just 24 seconds old when referee, Kevin Blom pointed to the spot after a combination of Jonas Svensson and Guus Til sent Bruins tumbling inside the area leaving the former Feyenoord man to dust himself down and send Marco Bizot the wrong way with two minutes gone.

Remarkably, just six minutes later it was a case of déjà vu as the visitors then doubled their advantage when Blom adjudged Ron Vlaar to have pulled Kevin Vermeulen to the ground inside the area, leaving Bruins to once more send Bizot the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.

Things might have been different for the home side, who came into this match on the back of five successive victories in all competitions, had their in-form forward Wout Weghorst managed to put away a guilt-edged chance with the goal at his mercy instead of slamming the ball against the underside of Ögmundur Kristinsson’s crossbar with the Iceland international stranded after denying first, Fred Friday and then Alireza Jahanbakhsh in quick succession six minutes into the second half.

In the end luck just wasn’t with the home side who again went close when Feyenoord loanee, Marko Vejinovic curled a free kick from just outside the area through the Excelsior wall and onto the foot of Kristinsson’s right hand upright nine minutes from time.

Results: Week 6

Willem II 1-2 SC Heerenveen

Feyenoord 0-2 NAC Breda

Heracles 2-1 Roda JC

ADO Den Haag 1-0 Sparta Rotterdam

 FC Utrecht 1-7 PSV Eindhoven

VVV Venlo 1-1 PEC Zwolle

FC Groningen 1-0 FC Twente

AFC Ajax 1-2 Vitesse Arnhem

AZ Alkmaar 0-2 Excelsior

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The fifth week of action in the Dutch top flight got underway on Friday evening at Het Kasteel where visitors, AZ Alkmaar saw off hosts, Sparta Rotterdam to make it four wins on the bounce thanks to a double from in-form forward, Wout Weghorst.

Despite the home side having taken five points from a possible nine from their last three games after slipping up at the hands of newly promoted VVV Venlo on the opening day of the season, it was their guests who made all of the early running and John van den Brom’s side were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead twenty one minutes in when referee, Siemen Mulder pointed to the spot after Sherel Floranus sent a marauding Thomas Ouwejan tumbling inside the area.

However, despite notching four goals in his last four games, AZ’s in-form marksman, Wout Weghorst saw his spot-kick saved by Roy Kortsmit, who then took in the adulation of the crowd after turning the ball around his left hand upright for what appeared to be a corner.

Yet, the eagle-eyed referee’s assistant on the far side ruled that the Sparta ‘keeper had not been stood on his line when the kick had been taken, leaving referee, Mulder to order a retake.

Remarkably, the result would be the same as Kortsmit once more got down smartly to paw away Weghorst’s second attempt, this time to his right.

Despite their early reprieve, Alex Pastoor’s men did eventually find themselves a goal down eleven minutes before the break when Weghorst made amends for his earlier misses from the spot by sweeping home a low corner from the right by Feyenoord loanee, Marko Vejinovic from mid-way inside the area.

Having largely dominated proceeding throughout, it came as little surprise when the away side doubled their advantage just after the hour mark – Iranian international, Alireza Jahanbakhsh teeing up Weghorst for the 25-year-old to notch his sixth goal in just his fifth outing of the season by lashing the ball through the grasp of an unsighted Kortsmit from just inside the area to ultimately move John van den Brom’s side joint-top of the table with only goal difference separating them from first placed, Feyenoord ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion in Rotterdam where a second half comeback from visitors, Heerenveen saw Jurgen Streppel’s side record a third successive victory.

Despite trailing hosts, Excelsior at the break thanks to a stunning eighteenth minute strike by Ryan Koolwijk, who lashed the ball beyond a static Martin Hansen from just outside the area after being teed up by Ali Messaoud, the away side emerged with purpose for the second half and were back on level terms just five minutes after the resumption – Morten Thorsby stabbing the ball back for Arber Zeneli to tuck the ball beyond the despairing dive of the host’s Icelandic stopper, Ögmundur Kristinsson from just side the area.

Having pulled his side back onto level terms, Heerenveen’s Kosovar international went close to doubling the away side’s advantage when he saw his speculative drive from well outside the area cannon back off Kristinsson’s left hand upright just after the hour mark.

Heerenveen went into this encounter as one of only two sides in the Dutch top flight yet to taste defeat this term and that confidence was clear to see when, having restored parity, Streppel’s side pressed on for a winner which duly arrived twenty minutes from time – Marco Rojas cutting in from the right before laying the ball off to Real Madrid loanee, Martin Ødegaard who in turn fed Iranian international, Reza Ghoochannejhad whose through ball presented the New Zealander with the opportunity to evade the attentions of both Milan Massop and Jurgen Mattheij and squeeze the ball between an onrushing Kristinsson and the Iceland international’s near post.

Despite the home side desperately searching for an equaliser, it was the visitors who went closest to finding the back of the net in the closing stages when Ødegaard cut in from the left and hit the by-line before teeing up Ghoochannejhad whose effort from just inside the area clipped the top of Kristinsson’s crossbar a minute from time.

Having both endured a torrid opening to the campaign something had to give in Kerkrade where two sides yet to post a point this season went head to head, with guests, Willem II taking all three points to leave hosts, Roda JC rooted to the foot of the table.

A scintillating first half performance by Erwin van de Looi’s men effectively had their first points of the campaign in the bag by half time, the visitors having gotten off to the perfect start with just five minutes on the clock when new signing, Etien Velikonja half-volleyed the ball past an exposed Hidde Jurjus at the back post after a Jop van der Linden free kick had sparked chaos in the home side’s area.

The visitors doubled their advantage eighteen minutes later when Liverpool loanee, Pedro Chirivella set compatriot, Fran Sol clear to slot the ball beyond Jurjus before the Spanish forward then turned provider to set up Velikonja’s second just after the half hour mark with a pinpoint square ball from the right side of the visitor’s area after being found by an incisive through ball by Thom Haye.

Despite Mikhail Rosheuvel pulling a goal back for Robert Molenaar’s beleaguered side a minute into added time at the end of the half – Anderlecht loanee, Jorn Vancamp spear-heading a swift counter-attack by the hosts before setting the 27-year-old away to slot the ball past an exposed Timon Wellenreuther, the hosts ultimately failed to avert a fifth successive defeat.

Things might have been different for the hosts had an own goal from Jordens Peters three minutes into the second half not been ruled out by referee, Pol van Boekel who adjudged Tsiy William Ndenge’s cutback to have crossed the by-line before going in off the unwitting Willem II centre half or substitute, Dani Schahin’s effort from the edge of the box found the back of the net instead of clipping the top of Wellenreuther’s crossbar fifteen minutes from time.

Elsewhere on Saturday evening, Eredivisie new boys, NAC Breda secured their first win since regaining their top flight status by seeing off visitors, FC Groningen at the Rat Verlegh Stadion.

Following a goalless opening period, two goals in as many minutes from Rai Vloet set the home side on the road to victory – the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder lashing the ball past Sergio Padt from just outside the area after being slipped in by an incisive through ball from Manchester City loanee, Angelino thirteen minutes into the second half before capitalising on a poor clearance on the edge of the area by Django Warmerdam to double the home side’s advantage on the hour.

Despite Mimoun Mahi reducing the arrears with his fourth of the campaign twenty minutes from time when a pinpoint pass over the top of the home defence by Ruben Jenssen found Mahi with the time and space to volley the ball past Breda’s newly recruited Australian stopper, Mark Birighitti from the edge of the box, in the end, the hosts weren’t to be denied their first win since reclaiming their seat at Dutch football’s top table.

However things could have been different had referee, Danny Makkelie not ruled out Mahi’s second in the third minute of added time after Groningen ‘keeper, Padt had caused chaos in the Breda area by heading an Oussama Idrissi free kick back into the mixer for Etienne Reijnen to flick the ball on for the marginally offside 23-year-old to volley home from close range.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Zwolle where John van ‘t Schip’s side left it late to record their third win of the season and temporarily edge into the top four.

The hosts were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead with just four minutes gone when, having been found in space wide on the left by Piotr Parzyszek, Youness Mokhtar was allowed to sprint half the length of the field before cutting inside Robin Pröpper and firing the ball past an exposed Bram Castro.

However, when Jamiro Monteiro’s deflected free kick pulled Heracles level twelve minutes from time, it appeared as though the visitors would leave with a point.

That was until Mokhtar popped up with what ultimately proved to be the winner in the 85^th minute – the 26-year-old cutting inside both Tim Breukers and substitute, Peter van Ooijen before beating Castro with a low drive from just inside the area after having initially been set away down the left by a deft no-look pass from Stef Nijland.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway in The Hague where Ajax’s early season struggles resurfaced once more at the hands of ADO Den Haag – Marcel Keizer’s side being forced to make do with a point after squandering a first half lead.

Things looked to be going the away side’s way when Dutch international, Joel Veltman put the visitors into the lead shortly before the half hour mark – the Ajax skipper getting his head to an in-swinging Hakim Ziyech free kick from the right in the 28^th minute.

However, having secured their first points of the season last time out after opening the campaign with three successive defeats, Alfons Groenendijk’s side emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and, having narrowly avoided going two-down when Frenkie de Jong rattled Robert Zwinkels’ crossbar five minutes after the restart, the hosts very nearly clawed their way back onto level terms when substitute Erik Falkenburg saw his speculative drive from just outside the area cannon back off Andre Onana’s crossbar in the 66^th minute.

With the home side’s confidence growing visibly with every attack, it came as little surprise when the hosts did eventually restore parity nineteen minutes from time – Sheraldo Becker squaring an over-hit Aaron Meijers cross from the left back into the box from the right hand by-line for ADO’s Norwegian forward, Bjørn Johnsen to lash the ball past a helpless Onana from close range.

Try as they might the visitors failed to find a winning goal thereafter – a deflected Lasse Schone’s effort that rattled Zwinkels’ crossbar nine minutes from time ultimately proving to be the closest Ajax would come to denying their hosts a well-deserved share of the spoils.

Despite going into their encounter with FC Utrecht without a point to their name, hosts, FC Twente stunned their high-flying guests by hitting them for four on Sunday afternoon.

Having endured four successive defeats, few gave Rene Hake’s side much of a chance against an FC Utrecht side that had not only won three of its opening four league fixtures but had also given Zenit St. Petersburg a torrid time in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League.

Yet, it was the hosts who were out of the blocks first – Tom Boere latching onto a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the visiting defence by centre half, Peet Bijen before catching Utrecht’s onrushing glovesman, David Jensen in no-man’s-land with a delightful lob from just inside the area.

Having scored just twice in their four outings thus far, the hosts then doubled their goal tally for the season just nine minutes later – Nottingham Forest loanee, Thomas Lam rising highest to head a Michael Liendl corner from the right past a static Jensen.

The hosts continued to make light of their troubles in front of goal by adding a third ten minutes before the break – KSC Lokeren loanee, Luciano Slagveer slotting the ball past an exposed Jensen after being slipped in by an incisive through-ball from Boere.

Try as they might, Erik ten Hag’s side failed to find a foothold in the match and their misery was compounded when they fell further behind fifteen minutes from time.

Having had a goal ruled out for offside by referee, Jochem Kamphuis just two minutes earlier, Oussama Assaidi quickly made amends – the 29-year-old picking up a Slagveer pull-back from the right just inside the area and escaping the attentions of Yassin Ayoub before slotting the ball past Jensen from the edge of the box to add the host’s fourth of the afternoon with a quarter of an hour to go.

For the second time in as many weeks Eredivisie new boys, VVV Venlo left it late to snatch a priceless point on the road, this time in Arnhem.

Despite losing out to Lazio in the opening group stage fixture of their UEFA Europa League campaign, things looked to be going the way of hosts Vitesse – who begin their defence of the KNVB Beker with a trip to fifth tier outfit, AVV Swift in the first round of the competition on Wednesday evening, when Tim Matavz put Henk Fraser’s side into the ascendancy two minutes into the second half – the Slovenian international capitalising on a wayward pass from half time substitute, Johnatan Opoku to steal a march on the visitor’s central defensive pairing of Nils Röseler and Jerold Promes before slotting the ball past an exposed Lars Unnerstall.

However, after having Arsenal loanee, Kelechi Nwakali to thank for salvaging an unlikely point in the first minute of added time in Groningen last time out, Maurice Steijn’s newly promoted side again left it late to secure another valuable point on the road – referee, Dennis Higler adjudging Guram Kashia to have held back Röseler in the area as the two battled to reach a Clint Leemans free kick with just a minute of the ninety left to play, leaving Leemans to convert the resultant spot-kick in the last minute of normal time.

There was little doubt as to the match of the round as league leaders and reigning Eredivisie champions, Feyenoord made to trip to the Philips Stadion to face PSV Eindhoven.

Having been hit for four by Manchester City at De Kuip in their first match in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for fifteen years on Wednesday night, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was looking for a positive response from his side on Sunday afternoon.

However, the smoke from the pre-match fireworks had scarcely begun to clear when the hosts drew first blood with just two minutes on the clock – Gaston Pereiro volleying a Jurgen Locadia cross from the left past Brad Jones from just outside the box.

Having found themselves placed firmly under the cosh by their hosts early on and with the frustrating events of Wednesday evening still fresh in the visiting players’ minds, things soon began to boil over – referee, Bjorn Kuipers somewhat leniently showing Steven Berghuis a yellow card as opposed to a straight red just past the quarter hour mark after the former Watford man had recklessly lunged two-footed into a tackle with Luuk de Jong on half way – a challenge which resulted in the Dutch international leaving the field and later being taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs.

Despite their slow start, the visitors gradually worked their way back into the contest and were unlucky not to find themselves back on level terms when Jens Toornstra saw his free kick from just outside the area come back off Jeroen Zoet’s left hand upright shortly before the half hour mark.

Having seen their lead remain intact by the smallest of margins, the hosts very nearly doubled their advantage five minutes before the break but for Locadia to see his volley from just outside the box collide with the inside of the post before ricocheting into Feyenoord’s Australian glovesman, Jones, who then managed to claw the ball to safety.

Having gotten off rather lightly earlier in the half, Berghuis failed to make it to the interval – Kuipers giving the 25-year-old his marching orders two minutes before the break for blatantly pulling back Jorrit Hendrix just inside the visitor’s half.

Despite finding the odds stacked against them, Feyenoord refused to surrender and the away side could have escaped with what would have been a remarkable point had Toornstra put a Jean-Paul Boëtius cut-back from the right by-line into the back of an unguarded net as opposed to inexplicably clearing the bar with the goal at his mercy twenty minutes from time.

Yet, in the end it was Phillip Cocu’s side that emerged from the season’s first showpiece fixture with all three points to leave PSV in second place in the standings with only goal difference now separating them from reigning champions, Feyenoord in first.

Results Week 5

Sparta Rotterdam 0-2 AZ Alkmaar

Excelsior 1-2 SC Heerenveen

Roda JC 1-3 Willem II

NAC Breda 2-1 FC Groningen

PEC Zwolle 2-1 Heracles

ADO Den Haag 1-1 AFC Ajax

FC Twente 4-0 FC Utrecht

Vitesse Arnhem 1-1 VVV Venlo

PSV Eindhoven 1-0 Feyenoord

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The second round the 2017/18 campaign got underway at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion where, despite being under new management, it was more of the same for the home side as cup-holders, Vitesse Arnhem made it two wins from two at the expense of hosts, Roda JC – Robert Molenaar’s side falling to a second-straight defeat.

Having shipped four in their trip to PEC Zwolle on the opening weekend, the hosts were far more organised here and looked like taking their clean sheet into the half time interval until Slovenian marksman, Tim Matavz capitalised on a poor back-pass by centre half, Frederic Ananou to curl the ball beyond an exposed Hidde Jurjus and give Henk Fraser’s side the lead five minutes before the break.

Despite falling behind, Molenaar’s charges refused to let their heads drop and, thanks in no small part to a hefty slice of luck, found an equaliser nineteen minutes into the second half – referee, Jochem Kamphuis ruling Milot Rashica to have brought down Mikhail Rosheuvel as the Roda forward streaked towards the by-line leaving last week’s two goal hero, Simon Gustafson to see his resultant spot-kick hit the foot of Remko Pasveer’s right hand upright before going in off the back of the former PSV glovesman.

However, despite being pegged back, it took just five minutes for the visitors to restore their advantage – Thomas Bruns curling a perfectly placed free kick from just outside the area beyond the reach of Jurjus.

The away side dispelled any hopes of a comeback by their hosts ten minutes from time – Guram Kashia rising highest to head an Alexander Büttner corner from the right past a static Jurjus.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway in Enschede where newly promoted VVV Venlo continued to make light of their step up to the top flight of Dutch football by making it two wins in as many games at the expense of hosts, FC Twente.

Despite their encouraging performance against reigning champions, Feyenoord last time out and seeing Marko Kvasina hit the foot of Lars Unnerstall’s right hand upright with just two minutes gone here, the hosts found themselves playing catch-up after just twenty three minutes – Vito van Crooij running onto a Lennart Thy flick-on before flashing the ball past Jorn Brondeel in the home goal to bag his second in as many games.

The away side doubled their advantage four minutes before the break – centre half, Jerold Promes stabbing home from close range after being found by Ralf Seuntjens’ cushioned header following a well-worked corner routine on the right by the away side.

Despite ultimately failing to post any points for the second week in succession, Rene Hake’s men did manage to claw their way back into the contest early in the second half when, having bagged 34 goals in all competitions last term, former FC Oss marksman, Tom Boere cut the deficit in half with his first goal since making the step up from the second tier on the hour mark – the 24-year-old nodding the ball past Unnerstall after being found on the edge of the box by a pinpoint cross from first half substitute, Jeroen van der Lely.

Having each suffered set-backs on the opening weekend, both AZ Alkmaar and ADO Den Haag were keen to get their respective seasons back on track. However, it was the hosts who came out on top over their undermanned guests when the two sides clashed at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday evening.

Having been lucky to have escaped falling behind when Ron Vlaar was on hand to clear a goal-bound Melvyn Lorenzen effort off the line after AZ ‘keeper, Marco Bizot had been stranded in no-man’s land denying ADO’s Norwegian forward, Bjorn Johnsen with just eight minutes on the clock, John van den Brom’s side were handed the perfect start when referee, Danny Makkelie gave the returning Wilfried Kanon his marking orders just before the half hour mark – the Ivory Coast international picking up his second booking of the match for pulling Vlaar to the ground as the AZ skipper attempted to meet a corner from the left, leaving Wout Weghorst to force the resultant spot-kick past Robert Zwinkels.

Despite being reduced to ten men the away side refused to let their heads drop and it was only when the hosts doubled their advantage twenty minutes from time that the home side could be sure of taking all three points – Guus Til rising highest to head home a Marko Vejinovic corner from the right past a static Zwinkels.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action was concluded in Friesland where hosts Heerenveen left it late to salvage a point from their clash with Heracles.

Having weathered a torrid opening period that was dominated by their hosts, John Stegeman’s side, buoyed by their victory over Ajax seven days earlier, edged ahead against the run of play a minute into added time at the end of the half when Robin Pröpper’s deflected volley following a Brandley Kuwas corner from the left found its way between the despairing dive of Wouter van der Steen and the home ‘keeper’s left hand upright.

Despite Joost van Aken beating Bram Castro with a close range header twenty minutes from time, the centre half saw his effort ruled out by referee, Edwin van de Graaf, who adjudged Iranian international, Reza Ghoochannejhad to have pushed Jeff Hardeveld in the back before teeing up van Aken to finish leaving the away side seemingly on course for their second win in as many games to open the new campaign until the third minute of added time when substitute, Nemanja Mihajlovic nodded a van der Steen clearance past Castro to snatch a point for Jurgen Streppel’s side.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the newly rechristened Van Donge & De Roo Stadion where reigning champions Feyenoord edged past Rotterdam neighbours Excelsior to make it two wins from two to continue their perfect start to the defence of their title.

In a game of few chances the outcome was ultimately decided in the eighteenth minute when, having ghosted past Jurgen Mattheij, Tonny Vilhena slipped in Jean-Paul Boëtius with a perfectly weighted through ball for the 23-year-old to slot the ball past an exposed Alessandro Damen in the home goal.

With a crucial trip to Russia to come on Thursday evening, FC Utrecht – in what was already their seventh competitive outing of the season, tuned up for the return leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie with Zenit St. Petersburg by making short work of visitors, Willem II on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts effectively had the points in the bag inside the opening seven minutes as Erik ten Hag’s side hit their guests with two early goals – Zakaria Labyad slotting the ball beyond the reach of visiting ‘keeper, Timon Wellenreuther to put the home side into the ascendancy with just two minutes on the clock after inadvertently playing a game of pinball on the edge of the area with Lukas Görtler, who, somewhat unwittingly, picked up an assist for the part his back played in the build-up before the German forward then played a more deliberate role in teeing up Belgian strike-partner, Cyriel Dessers to double the home side’s advantage just five minutes later – Görtler drawing a save from the onrushing Wellenreuther after being sent clear by a well weighted ball over the top by Urby Emanuelson which the 21-year-old German could only parry into the path of Dessers, who was left with the simple task of rolling the ball into the back of an empty net.

At the same time Ajax were busy getting their season back on track at the expense of visitors, FC Groningen.

Having lost twice in what has been a week to forget for Marcel Keizer’s troops, the home side quickly set about asserting their authority and the home side could have taken the lead just after the quarter hour but Hakim Ziyech saw his effort from just outside the area cannon back off the foot of Sergio Padt’s right hand upright.

Having made a number of alterations with Thursday’s return leg in Norway in the back of his mind, Keizer opted to hand Klaas-Jan Huntelaar his first start since returning to the club and the coach’s faith was repaid by the veteran marksman as he opened the scoring seven minutes before the break – Ziyech bending in a perfectly weighted cross for the Dutch international to gleefully nod the ball beyond a static Padt.

The hosts doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half – Ziyech taking a Vaclav Cerny square ball in his stride before ghosting past Etienne Reijnen and slotting the ball beyond an exposed Padt from the edge of the box.

However, just when it looked as though the home side could begin to focus on overturning their one-goal deficit in their UEFA Europa League play-off tie with Norwegian champions, Rosenborg, Ernest Faber’s men cut their host’s advantage in half – Oussama Idrissi picking up the ball wide on the left from Ruben Jenssen before cutting inside Ajax skipper, Joel Veltman and curling the ball delightfully into the top left hand corner of Andre Onana’s net.

Despite seeing their advantage cut in half, it took the hosts just six minutes to dispel any hope the away side may have harboured of taking anything away from their trip to Amsterdam – substitute, Lasse Schone taking the ball from Cerny before rolling Jenssen and unleashing a vicious effort from just inside the area that left Padt rooted to the spot.

Having been hit for three by newly promoted VVV Venlo in their first outing of the new campaign, Sparta Rotterdam were keen to get their season back on track in front of their own fans.

However, when Youness Mokhtar put PEC Zwolle into the ascendancy with just thirteen minutes on the clock at Het Kasteel the home faithful may have feared the worst – Piotr Parzyszek redirecting Mustafa Saymak’s low cross from the right into the path of an unmarked Mokhtar, who was left with the simple task of rolling the ball beyond an exposed Roy Kortsmit from the edge of the box.

Yet there was to be no repeat of last Saturday’s horror show in Limburg as the hosts were back on level terms just nine minutes later through Zulte Waregem loanee, Robert Mühren – Loris Brogno putting aside his own disappointment after being left on the bench by coach, Alex Pastoor last time out by turning Philippe Sandler inside out on the right edge of the area before putting the goal on a plate for new-boy, Mühren, who he found unmarked a few yards out after his initial cross had been headed clear by Dirk Marcellis.

Despite falling behind early on, having clawed their way back onto level terms, the home side could count themselves unlucky not to have taken all three points when, after escaping the attentions of Bram van Polen, Brogno saw his rasping left-footed drive from just outside the area cannon back off Diederik Boer’s left hand upright seven minutes into the second half.

While fellow new-boys, VVV Venlo have taken to their new surroundings like a duck to water, the same cannot be said for play-off winners, NAC Breda who were hit for four for the second week in succession since their return to the top flight of Dutch football on Saturday afternoon.

It took just seventeen minutes for PSV Eindhoven to break their host’s resistance – Steven Bergwijn capitalising on a poor clearance by Menno Koch, following a back-post header from Jurgen Locadia, to rifle the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

However, following their meek display in Arnhem last time out, Stijn Vreven’s side dug in and found their way back on level terms from the spot four minutes before the break – referee, Pol van Boekel handing Manchester City loanee, Thierry Ambrose the opportunity to net his second goal in as many games since making the transition from the blue half of Manchester after the 20-year-old French forward was pulled to the ground just inside the area by PSV new-boy, Derrick Luckassen

Despite going in at the break on level terms, once Chelsea loanee, Marco van Ginkel had re-established the visitor’s advantage on the hour mark Phillip Cocu’s troops never really looked in danger of taking anything less than all three points from their trip to the Rat Verlegh Stadion – the PSV skipper rising highest at the back post to head a Hirving Lozano out-swinger from the right beyond the despairing dive of home ‘keeper, Andries Noppert.

Having marked his league debut with a goal, Mexican import, Lozano made it two in as many games by adding a third for the visitors just nine minutes later – Bergwijn capitalising on some loose play on half way to pick out Lozano on the left before the 22-year-old punished the home defence for affording him so much time and space by cutting inside and beating Noppert with a low drive from just outside the area.

Having fallen out-of-favour with PSV coach, Cocu, Luuk de Jong did make his presence felt after replacing Gaston Pereiro shortly before the hour mark by teeing up Jorrit Hendrix to stroke home the away side’s fourth from just outside the area three minutes from time.

Results: Week 2

Roda JC 1-3 Vitesse Arnhem

FC Twente 1-2 VVV Venlo

AZ Alkmaar 2-0 ADO Den Haag

SC Heerenveen 1-1 Heracles Almelo

Excelsior 0-1 Feyenoord

FC Utrecht 2-0 Willem II

AFC Ajax 3-1 FC Groningen

Sparta Rotterdam 1-1 PEC Zwolle

NAC Breda 1-4 PSV Eindhoven

 

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The 2017/18 Eredivisie campaign got underway with last season’s European play-off winners, FC Utrecht picking up where they left off by hitting hosts, ADO Den Haag for three without reply at the newly renamed Cars Jeans Stadion on Friday evening.

Despite having four competitive outings already under the belt, the away side were very nearly caught cold by their hosts when Sheraldo Becker was denied by David Jensen, after the former Ajax youngster found himself away and clear – latching onto a flick-on by the returning Lex Immers, just two minutes in.

However, despite the home side’s promising start, just a quarter of an hour in, it was Erik ten Hag’s side who broke the deadlock when new arrival, Cyriel Dessers found himself in the right place at the right time to tap the ball into an empty net after strike partner, Gyrano Kerk had rattled the frame of Robert Zwinkel’s goal with a blockbuster from well outside the area.

Having endured a torrid campaign both on and off the field last term, the home faithful had hoped the return of club icon, Immers and a slew of summer recruits that included Norwegian forward, Bjorn Johnsen, would lead to a reversal of fortunes this season and the former Hearts striker very nearly clawed the home side level – striking the foot of Jensen’s right hand upright with a low drive from just outside the area nine minutes before the interval.

Despite, no doubt, having one eye on the 1^st leg of their upcoming UEFA Europa League play-off tie against Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday evening, ten Hag’s side remained focused on the task at hand and doubled their advantage ten minutes into the second half – former SC Cambuur midfielder, Sander van de Streek heading a perfectly weighted cross from the left by substitute, Urby Emanuelson beyond the reach of Zwinkels.

Despite finding themselves two goals down, the hosts weren’t about to meekly surrender and the home side continuously threatened to cut the away side’s advantage in half throughout the second period – a fierce Tom Beugelsdijk header rattled Jensen’s crossbar in the 65^th minute before Becker then drew a smart near-post save from the visiting ‘keeper a minute later and Johnsen saw his close range header clawed over the bar by the 25-year-old Dane two minutes after that.

Yet, try as they might, Alfons Groenendijk’s side failed to make the break though and, when Dessers – who was recruited from NAC Breda over the summer after bagging 29 goals in his 40 outings in all competitions last term, was sent clear by an incisive through ball by Zakaria Labyad to net his second of the evening and the away side’s third with a cool finish under the onrushing Zwinkels, there was no coming back for the hosts.

Saturday’s Eredivisie action got underway at De Koel where newly promoted VVV Venlo put the rest of the top flight on notice by hitting undermanned Sparta Rotterdam for three.

Having both returned to the top flight of Dutch football as champions of the second tier, Maurice Steijn’s men will hope to replicate Sparta’s survival feat of last term – Alex Pastoor’s side’s fifteenth place finish not only preserving their Eredivisie status but also ensuring that they did not have to negotiate the lottery that is the end-of-season promotion/ relegation play-offs.

However, having lost two key defensive components in Rick van Drongelen (Hamburger SV) and Denzel Dumfries (Heerenveen) just weeks before the beginning of the new campaign, Pastoor’s side found themselves on the back foot and, after almost falling behind in the 12^th minute when Michel Breuer cleared a goal-bound effort from Tarik Tissoudali off the line, the visitor’s resistance was eventually broken a minute before the break – Clint Leemans seeing his low drive from well outside the area wrong-foot Roy Kortsmit in the Sparta goal.

Buoyed by their half time lead, the hosts emerged from the interval with a spring in their step and having seen both Lennart Thy and Vito van Crooij hit the woodwork within seconds of the restart, the home side doubled their advantage three minutes into the second half – Tissoudali tucking the ball under an exposed Kortsmit with the Sparta rear guard at sixes and sevens after the visiting ‘keeper had denied full back, Tristan Dekker just seconds earlier.

Any hope, Pastoor’s men might have harboured of clawing their way back into the match disappeared six minutes from time when referee, Jochem Kamphuis gave Julian Chabot his marching orders after the centre half was shown a second yellow card following a body chack on van Crooij.

The home side soon made their numerical advantage count by adding their third a minute into added time – Thy picking out van Crooij who, having burned off Breuer, chipped the ball delightfully over the onrushing Kortsmit to bag a goal that his individual performance richly deserved.

Having endured a humiliating exit from the 3^rd qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Croatian outfit, NK Osijek, the pressure was on PSV Eindhoven coach, Phillip Cocu to silence the naysayers who – in the wake of their European exit, had also written off his side’s title chances.

However, things appeared to be going from bad to worse when Dabney dos Santos handed visitors, AZ Alkmaar the lead with just eighteen minutes on the clock at the Philips Stadion – Wout Weghorst getting the jump on Joshua Brenet down the right before pulling the ball back low to the waiting dos Santos who drilled the ball past Dutch international, Jeroen Zoet.

Despite the away side continuing to look the more likely to score, the hosts were back on level terms just after the half hour mark – new recruit, Hirving Lozano cutting in from the left and leaving Ron Vlaar for dead before catching out visiting ‘keeper, Marco Bizot with a low drive that surprisingly beat 26-year-old at his near post.

Indeed, PSV’s newly acquired Mexican marksman could have netted a second just five minutes later but for the intervention of Jonas Svensson whose goal-line clearance kept John van den Brom’s side on level terms before Lozano again threatened to hand the home side the lead heading into the half time interval only to see his effort cannon back off Bizot’s crossbar after finding himself one-on-one with the visiting ‘keeper just a minute later.

However, despite squandering a number of chances to take the lead, Cocu’s side were almost made to pay for their profligacy when Iranian international, Alireza Jahanbakhsh saw his curling effort from just outside the area strike Zoet’s left hand upright three minutes before the break.

Having had a lucky escape shortly before the interval, the home side emerged for the second stanza with renewed purpose and took the lead just three minutes after the restart – Gaston Pereiro flashing past a static Svensson on the left before lashing the ball beyond the exposed Bizot.

Fourteen minutes from time the hosts looked to have sealed all three points when Dutch international, Marco van Ginkel added a third from close range after Bizot could only parry a Pereiro header into the path of the Chelsea loanee.

Despite enjoying a two-goal advantage the points were anything but safe as the last few minutes proved to be anything but a formality for the home side who were left reeling when referee, Bjorn Kuipers awarded the away side a penalty – the official adjudging that van Ginkel had hindered the run of Jahanbakhsh, leaving Weghorst to send Zoet the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick nine minutes from time.

Having seen one of their fellow title rivals get off to a winning start, AFC Ajax arrived in Almelo for their meeting with Heracles, aiming to avoid the sort of patchy form that ultimately derailed their title chances in the opening weeks of last season.

Thursday sees Ajax play host to Norwegian outfit, Rosenborg bk in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League – the competition which Ajax graced the final of last term, and, as such, following their disappointing exit on away goals at the hands of Nice in the 3^rd qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Marcel Keizer’s men will be under pressure to secure a place in the group stages of European club football’s second tier competition.

Despite having this weight of expectancy in the back of their minds, following a goalless opening period, Keizer’s men emerged for the second half the brighter of the two sides and, after seeing left back, Mitchell Dijks strike the foot of Bram Castro’s left hand upright five minutes after the restart, the away side broke the deadlock – Hakim Ziyech capping a marauding run and cut-back from Amin Younes by smashing the ball past a static Castro from just inside the area just after the hour mark.

Shortly before the match it had been revealed that, with a proposed switch to Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon, Ajax’s Colombian centre half, Davinson Sanchez had been withdrawn and the 21-year-old’s absence would ultimately have a telling effect as the home side turned the score-line on its head to record a first win over their illustrious opposition in 52 years.

Ajax’s lead lasted just nine minutes before the returning Paul Gladon stole a march on Matthijs de Ligt to level the scores in the 65^th minute – Brandley Kuwas getting the better of Dijks on the right before threading the ball through for the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ loanee to tuck beneath an exposed Andre Onana.

Then, with their rear guard looking progressively stretched as the away side pressed more and more numbers into the attack, Kuwas capitalised on the copious amount of space he was afforded to cut in from the left and bend the ball superbly beyond the flailing left hand of Onana to put the home side into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish eight minutes from time.         

With the visitors’ desperation mounting, Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana threw himself into the mixer in an attempt to find an equaliser. However, despite the ball ending up in the back of the host’s net, the goal was ruled out after Onana’s challenge on his opposite number, Castro, following a Ziyech corner from the right, was deemed illegal by referee, Kevin Blom in the sixth minute of added time.

While one newly promoted side enjoyed their return to the top flight another were given a torrid time in Arnhem as cup-holders, Vitesse hit play-off winner’s NAC Breda for four at the GelreDome on Saturday night.

It took the home side just two minutes to break the deadlock – former Heracles man, Thomas Bruns sweeping an Alexander Büttner cross from the left beyond the despairing dive of visiting ‘keeper, Andries Noppert.

The hosts doubled their lead eighteen minutes later – Bryan Linssen stabbing the ball home from close range after an initial effort by Tim Matavz sat up perfectly for the ex-Groningen forward.

Having escaped conceding a third when a deflected Navarone Foor effort from just inside the area cannoned back off Noppert’s crossbar in the 26^th minute, a miserable half of football was compounded for Stijn Vreven’s side when another of the host’s summer recruits, Matavz made it three just after the half hour mark – the Slovenian forward heading a pinpoint right wing cross from Rashica beyond Breda’s 23-year-old glovesman.

The visitors did briefly give themselves a glimmer of hope when French forward, Thierry Ambrose pulled one back for the newly promoted side with twenty one minutes left to play – the Manchester City loanee beating home ‘keeper, Remko Pasveer with a looping header after being found by another man on loan from the blue half of Manchester – Spaniard, Manu Garcia.

However, after posting an impressive if ultimately unsuccessful display against reigning league champions, Feyenoord in last weekend’s Johan Cruijff Schaal, Henk Fraser’s side made sure of all three points by adding a fourth through Milot Rashica thirteen minutes from time – the 21-year-old Kosovar international weaving this way and that on the edge of the area before beating Noppert with a well-placed low drive.

Sunday’s Eredivisie action got underway at the MAC3PARK stadion where the John van ‘t Schip era at PEC Zwolle got off to a winning start with the hosts hitting visitors, Roda JC for four.

However, it was the away side, having escaped the drop by the skin of their teeth last time out, who hit the front through Feyenoord loanee, Simon Gustafson – the Swede turning Dirk Marcellis inside out before slipping the ball beyond the returning Diederik Boer after being inadvertently slipped in by an errant ball from Zwolle’s Mustafa Saymak.

Despite looking set to take their advantage into the break, Robert Molenaar’s side found themselves back on level terms a minute into added time at the end of the first half – Marcellis glancing home a Younes Namli corner from the right at the near post.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the hosts soon took the lead themselves, though it arrived from the most unlikely of sources – Adil Auassar putting through his own net from close range as he attempted to cut out a Bram van Polen cross from the left eight minutes into the second half.

However, Molenaar’s troops wouldn’t go down without a fight and, nine minutes later, were back on level terms – referee, Bas Nijhuis pointing to the spot after van Polen had brought down Mikhail Rosheuvel just inside the area, leaving Gustafson to send Boer the wrong way from the resultant penalty.

Despite being pegged back by their visitors, it took just three minutes for the hosts to reassert their dominance – Saymak making amends for his earlier error by beating PSV Eindhoven loanee, Hidde Jurjus to a long hanging punt from Ryan Thomas to loop the ball beyond the stranded 23-year-old and into the back of the net in the 66^th minute before van Polen made sure of all three points by adding a fourth for the home side sixteen minutes from time with a long range drive from just outside the area.

Having secured their first league title since 1999 last time out, reigning champions, Feyenoord began the defence of their crown by squeezing past a dogged FC Twente side at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon.

After topping the Eredivisie goal-scoring charts last term, Nicolai Jorgensen picked up where he left off by firing the home side into the ascendancy after twenty three minutes – the returning Jean-Paul Boetius showing some deft control to breeze past Hidde ter Avest before hitting the by-line and pulling the ball back into the path of the onrushing Jorgensen who poked the ball past the away side’s newly recruited Belgian glovesman, Jorn Brondeel from close range.

However, despite enduring a five-game goal-scoring drought in pre-season ahead of making the trip to Rotterdam, Rene Hake’s side found themselves back on level terms in spectacular fashion seven minutes before the break when Fredrik Jensen beat 19-year-old debutant, Justin Bijlow – who was standing in between the posts with both Brad Jones and Kenneth Vermeer ruled out through injury, with a rocket of a strike from just outside the area.

Having seen fellow title contenders, Ajax slip up in Almelo the night before, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side were keen to capitalise on the profligacy of their bitter rivals and the hosts did just that in the 61^st minute – Steven Berghuis celebrating penning a multi-year deal at De Kuip after enjoying a successful loan spell at the club last term by popping up at the back post to head a perfectly weighted Jen Toornstra free kick from the left beyond the despairing dive of Brondeel.

At the same time, Feyenoord’s Rotterdam neighbours, Excelsior were enjoying a rare away victory in Tilburg.

Having once more defied the odds to retain their top flight status last time out, Mitchell van der Gaag’s side unexpectedly took the lead when Willem II ‘keeper, Timon Wellenreuther’s left hand inadvertently diverted Milan Massop’s back post header, following a free kick from the right, into his own net after the ball cannoned back off the German ‘keeper’s right hand upright shortly before the half hour mark.

Galvanised by their half time advantage the away side doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half – Ajax loanee, Zakaria El Azzouzi capping a period of concerted pressure by the away side by latching onto a perfectly weighted slide-rule pass from Kevin Vermeulen and stroking the ball beyond the reach of an exposed Wellenreuther before paying tribute to Ajax team mate Abdelhak Nouri by holding aloft a shirt emblazoned with the 20-year-old’s name and number to the crowd.

Keen to avoid the struggles of last season, Erwin van de Looi’s side pulled themselves back into the match just after the hour mark through Spanish marksman, Fran Sol – who, beat Alessandro Damen with a sweetly struck volley after controlling a deflected Daniel Crowley cross on his chest.

However, try as they might, the home side failed to find a second and it was the away side that came closest to adding to the scoresheet when Stanley Elbers saw his drive from just inside the area cannon back off Wellenreuther’s crossbar.

The first week of the 2017/18 Eredivisie campaign was concluded with a six-goal thriller at the Noordlease Stadion as rivals, Groningen and Heerenveen battled out an entertaining 3-3 draw in the Battle of the North on Sunday afternoon.

Things appeared to be going the way of the visitors when Morten Thorsby put the away side into the ascendancy from close range with just six minutes on the clock – debutant, Denzel Dumfries picking out the head of the 21-year-old Norwegian after a period of sustained pressure by Jurgen Streppel’s side.

Despite losing newly recruited ‘keeper, Warner Hahn to a shoulder injury just seconds later, the result appeared to be going the way of the visiting side when Reza Ghoochannejhad doubled Heerenveen’s advantage five minutes before the break – the Iranian international stabbing home a low Dumfries cross from the right beyond the exposed Sergio Padt.

However, eight minutes after the restart a first strike in a Groningen shirt for new recruit, Lars Veldwijk saw the home side claw their way back into the contest – the 25-year-old South African international being slipped in down the left by Jesper Drost before escaping the attentions of both Daniel Høegh and Joost van Aken and slotting the ball past substitute ‘keeper, Wouter van der Steen.

Having endured a poor first period, the home faithful were buoyed by their side’s improved second half performance and, after being left aggrieved after seeing an earlier appeal for a spot kick turned down by referee, Pol van Boekel when Mimoun Mahi had appeared to have been tugged back by van Aken shortly before the hour, when van Boekel did eventually point to the spot after adjudging Heerenveen debutant, Lucas Woudenberg to have pushed Drost to the ground the relief was palpable as Mahi made no mistake with the resultant penalty to tie the game up at two-a-piece with eight minutes to play.

Yet, just as the home side seemed to be gathering the momentum, Heerenveen retook the lead – Thorsby, who had earlier squandered the chance of bagging his second of the match by striking the outside of Padt’s right hand upright with the goal at his mercy, capitalised on a nice dummy from Henk Veerman to steal in behind the host’s rear guard and tuck the ball past the exposed Padt.

But, just as Streppel’s side seemed set to take all three points back to the Abe Lenstra Stadion, referee van Boekel once more pointed to the spot – the official adjudging van Aken to have held back Lars Veldwijk just outside the box, leaving Mahi to step up and send van der Steen the wrong way to ensure Ernest Faber’s side a share of the spoils two minutes from time.

Results: Week 1

ADO Den Haag 0-3 FC Utrecht

VVV Venlo 3-0 Sparta Rotterdam

PSV Eindhoven 3-2 AZ Alkmaar

Heracles Almelo 2-1 AFC Ajax

Vitesse Arnhem 4-1 NAC Breda

PEC Zwolle 4-2 Roda JC

Feyenoord 2-1 FC Twente

Willem II 1-2 Excelsior

FC Groningen 3-3 SC Heerenveen

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