Utrecht 1-0 AZ
PSV 3-1 Willem II
Waalwijk 4-1 Roda
Twente 2-1 VVV Venlo
Ajax 3-0 Den Haag
Groningen 1-0 Vitesse
Sparta 0-2 Heerenveen
NAC 0-2 Feyenoord
NEC 0-2 Heracles
It's safe to say that AZ's defence of their title isn't going particularly well. They've already lost as many games this season as they did last time and lie eight points adrift of the pace set by PSV and Twente. Sander Keller gave Utrecht the lead on 14 minutes, heading in a free-kick as Utrecht dominated proceedings, pressing high up the field and stifling the Alkmaarders. Just to make matters worse, AZ midfielder Simon Poulsen picked up a second yellow in the last few minutes as Utrecht keep up the pressure at the top. They play NEC on Wednesday with the Nijmegen side going into that one on the back of a defeat at home to Heracles. Everton and Bas Dost gave Heracles a two-goal lead and even the dismissal of Olivier ter Horst didn't help, Youssef El Akchaoui missing the penalty that came as a result. Win that midweek game and Utrecht will go level with Ajax.
They're likely to end the week behind the Amsterdammers who are enjoying the best goal difference in the league - it's already up to 20 thanks to another three against Den Haag. With ADO fans banned from travelling to the Amsterdam ArenA, they didn't have to witness their side's worst display of an otherwise satisfactory season to date. Demy de Zeeuw gave Ajax the lead half way through the first half and late goals from Marko Pantelic - his first for the club following his switch from Hertha - and Siem de Jong wrapped it up. On Saturday, PSV and Twente both won and it's they that sit atop the standings. PSV recorded a routine 3-1 victory over Willem II, Otman Bakkal, Danko Lazovic and Ibrahim Afellay making it safe in the first half with just a late consolation from Frank Demouge coming back the other way. Twente came from behind at home to VVV Venlo after the visitors took a third minute lead through Achmed Ahahaoui. The reply came from the South American duo Bryan Ruiz, the Costa Rican with an improvised overhead effort, and Douglas, the big Brazilian centre back lashing home from six yards as VVV failed to deal with a corner. Twente dominated throughout. Feyenoord won as well despite being reduced to ten men when Denny Landzaat was sent off. Andwele Slory got the opener just after the hour and though Landzaat saw red a minute from time, Leroy Fer still had time to add a second.
Waalwijk finally got a win and it was worth waiting for. Willem Janssen gave Roda an early lead, but two goals late in the first half put Waalwijk ahead. Fouad Idabdelhay and Charlison Benshop got those and further strikes after the break from Derk Boerrigter and Fred Benson finally saw RKC get off the mark. They're still bottom though, and Heerenveen won at Sparta to maintain the distance to the foot of the table. Paulo Henriques and a Viktor Elm penalty were enough for the Friesians. Groningen beat Vitesse by a single Danny Holla goal to join a clutch of clubs on eight points in the bottom half of the table.
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