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  • Monday 22 March 2010

    Twente clear, but Ajax on their heels: Eredivisie reviews

    Heerenveen 4-1 NEC
    Willem II 0-3 Utrecht
    PSV 1-1 Twente
    Heracles 3-0 NAC
    Feyenoord 1a1 Vitesse
    Waalwijk 1-5 Ajax
    Den Haag 0-0 VVV Venlo
    Groningen 1-0 Roda
    Sparta 0-1 AZ

    Stalemate at the Philips Stadion allowed Ajax to cut Twente's lead at the top of the table to four points. Another five goals - that's 85 for the season so far - were put away against Waalwijk who finished with ten men. Ajax even put RKC's goal in for them, Marko Pantelic turning a free-kick into his own goal. That made it 1-1 after Siem de Jong put Ajax in front early on, but the second half saw the Amsterdammers cut loose. Luis Suarez, inevitably, restored the lead before Hans Mulder's own goal made it three and Ruud Berger was sent off. In the last few minutes, Suarez struck his second and Dennis Rommedahl made it five to maintain a title push. It's still Twente's to lose though after a hard-fought draw in Eindhoven. Blaise N'Kufo, back from injury, equalised midway through the second half after Danny Koevermans had put PSV in front just after the break. The biggest test Twente will face in the remaining games is a trip to Alkmaar, but it's now Ajax that provide the main challenge, not PSV.

    Willem II remain in deep, deep trouble after a 3-0 loss at home to Utrecht. Jacob Mulenga put Utrecht ahead early on and two goals in five second half minutes sealed it. Jan Wuytens and Alje Schult were on target as Utrecht maintain faint hopes of European football next season. Den Haag pull out of the bottom three after a goalless draw with VVV Venlo, moving ahead of Vitesse on goal difference after Vitesse's game against Feyenoord was abandoned at half-time. Torrential rain throughout didn't ease and the referee was left with little option as the ball wasn't rolling. Sparta have been dragged right back into it at the bottom after defeat to AZ. David Mendes struck after just four minutes and that was enough for the champions.

    Heracles won again, two goals inside the first five minutes putting them on their way against NAC. Bas Dost and Willy Overtoom struck the early and decisive blows, Everton wrapping it up in the second half. Late drama at Heerenveen where NEC led early on through John Goossens. Gerald Sibon equalised before the break with a penalty and then put his side ahead after it and that looked like that as the clock wound down. Jeffrey Sarpong was sent off in the last minute, Michel Breuer notching the resultant penalty, and there was still time for Samir Fazli to make it four. Groningen cemented their position in the Europa League play-offs with a 1-0 win over Roda, Ajilore Oluwafemi with the only goal of the game coming after just two minutes.

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