Eredivisie Weekend Round Up: PSV on title course as ‘klassieke’ ends goalless

PSV opened up a six point gap on championship rivals Ajax as Frank de Boer’s side struggled to a point against Feyenoord in the ArenA.

Meanwhile, victories in the Eredivisie basement for FC Dordrecht and Go Ahead Eagles leaves both NAC Breda and ADO Den Haag supporters nervously looking over their shoulders, writes Neil Adderley.

FC Twente 2 – 0 Heracles Almelo: Seventeen-year-old stars in Twentse derby

Two second half goals gave Twente the spoils as Alfred Schreuder’s men struggled past local rivals Heracles.

A largely drab affair was finally brought to life as teenager Bilal Ould-Chikh came off the bench to stunning effect.

Jesus Corona had given the home side a lead on the hour mark, latching onto a woeful Ramon Zomer back pass before finishing past Dennis Telgenkamp.

But it was former Feyenoord academy player Ould-Chikh who stole the show with a sublime 25 yard finish.

The Dutch youth international, who had seen a previous effort crash back off the crossbar, left the home fans drooling with a curling drive into the top corner to secure the derby win for FC Twente.

Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 – 2 PSV Eindhoven: PSV remain on title course

PSV recovered from being dumped out of the KNVB cup by second tier Roda JC with a hard fought win at Cambuur.

The home side had the best of the opening exchanges and should have been in front as in-form Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche fired wide from close range.

The league leaders, who struggled to shake off their cup hangover, eventually found a way into the match and were rewarded on 40 minutes when Georginio Wijnaldum met a Jetro Willems inswinging cross to nod home.

Cocu’s men turned the pressure up on Ajax and Feyenoord as Memphis Depay stole in to head over  Cambuur keeper Leonard Nienhuis for his 11th goal of the season.

Cambuur, who have had an impressive season, pressed to get back in the game but Daniel de Ridder’s pinpoint injury time free-kick would prove to be no more than a consolation.

FC Dordrecht 1 – 0 Excelsior: Dordrecht finally win at home in Rijnmond derby

When FC Dordrecht beat Volendam 5-1 in 1995, few could have believed it would be twenty years before they would win another Eredivisie home match.

However, in a tight Rijnmond derby, Mart Lieder’s 64th minute winner finally ended the home supporters’ two decade wait.

While Dordrecht remain rooted to the bottom of the Eredivisie, a second victory since the opening day closes the gap to NAC Breda to four points and keeps alive a faint hope of avoiding relegation.

PEC Zwolle 1 – 1 AZ Alkmaar: Spoils shared at IJsseldelta Stadion

With just a point separating the teams in the table a draw was always going to be the likely outcome as PEC Zwolle hosted AZ Alkmaar at the IJsseldelta Stadion.

AZ began the brighter and on 6 minutes Nemanja Gudelj gave the away side an early lead after firing low past Warner Hahn.

Zwolle reacted quickly and when Ben Rienstra split the AZ defence to release Jody Lukoki, the winger made no mistake to level the score after 16 minutes.

Chances were created at either end but with the teams so evenly matched a draw was the right result and both sides eventually settled for a point.

PEC Zwolle stay fourth in the table with AZ Alkmaar one point and one place behind in fifth.

Heerenveen 4 – 1 Vitesse Arnhem: Revitalised Heerenveen dispatch disappointing Vitesse

Heerenveen exploded out of the traps as firstly Luciano Slagveer, and then Eredivisie top scorer Mark Uth, gave the Frisians a 2-0 lead within ten minutes.

A lacklustre Vitesse never looked likely to get back in the game and three points were all but secure for Heerenveen before the break.

There was a strong suspicion of handball before an unmarked Daley Sinkgraven prodded home from close range, but the the goal stood to give the home team a comfortable 3-0 half time lead.

Dwight Lodeweges’ men capped off an excellent performance when Slagveer got his second and Heerenveen’s fourth after yet another slick passage of play.

Despite Guram Kashia’s consolation header, these are worrying times for both Vitesse and manager Peter Bosz.

The Arnhemmers, who for so long last season were viewed as serious title contenders, now find themselves in a disappointing twelfth place in the Eredivisie table.

Heerenveen are unbeaten in five and move up to seventh.

Ajax 0 – 0 Feyenoord: PSV the winners as ‘de klassieke’ ends all square

For the first time since 1978, and only the second time in 177 meetings, ‘de klassieker’ between Ajax and Feyenoord ended goalless.

A wasteful Feyenoord were left kicking themselves as they failed to turn dominance into goals at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Ajax knew anything but a win would give title rivals PSV a six point cushion at the top of the table but it was Feyenoord that took immediate control and dominated long periods of an ultimately disappointing match.

Feyenoord’s aggressive pressing was too much to handle for Frank de Boer’s men, however, for the second consecutive weekend, an away team failed to punish a timid looking Ajax.

Feyenoord boss Fred Rutten will look back in despair at numerous squandered chances, and while Colin Kazim Richards was the main culprit, defender Terence Kongolo and winger Jean Paul Boetius, were equally culpable.

Ajax now trail leaders PSV by six points while Feyenoord join PEC Zwolle, AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente in the battle for third.

FC Groningen 2 – 2 FC Utrecht: Groningen twice let lead slip at the Euroborg

Utrecht fought back twice at the Euroborg to leave the home team without a win in five Eredivisie games.

Tjarron Chery broke the deadlock on the half hour mark when his dipping left footed free kick beat Robbin Ruiter in the Utrecht goal.

But Utrecht were level within two minutes as Edouard Duplan converted from a corner. Club top scorer Michael de Leeuw put Groningen back in front shortly after the break.

The forward, who has been heavily linked with a move to China, superbly heading home from a Hans Hataboer cross.

Groningen’s lead was yet again short lived as Utrecht midfielder Yassine Ayoub cleverly made space on the edge of the penalty area before firing a powerful, low shot past keeper Sergio Padt.

Ayoub had a glorious opportunity to put the visitors in front but with the goal gaping, his shot bounced back off the crossbar.

Utrecht keeper Robbin Ruiter then pushed away a Mimoun Mahi drive to ensure both teams shared a point from an entertaining contest.

NAC Breda 0 – 0 Willem II: Goalless Brabantse derby ends losing run for NAC

Quality was thin on the ground in Brabantse derby as both teams ground out a hard won point.

Samuel Armenteros rattled the bar for Willem II in a first half bereft of further chances.

Willem II came close to opening the scoring in an improved second half as firstly Bruno Andrade, and then Robert Braber, failed to beat NAC keeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar.

NAC’s best chance fell to Guyon Fernandez but Willem II defender Frank van der Struijk was able to clear off the line after the striker scuffed his effort.

A point leaves Willem II in 10th place while NAC, despite halting a three game losing run, find themselves just four points off the bottom of the Eredivisie.

Go Ahead Eagles 1 – 0 ADO Den Haag: Eagles stop the rot against ten man ADO

Go Ahead Eagles claimed a first win in five and in turn leapfrogged both ADO Den Haag and Heracles Almelo in the table.

The game hinged on a 43rd minute penalty decision as ADO defender Vito Wormgoor saw red for handball before Jop van der Linden coolly dispatched the spot kick.

Ten man ADO Den Haag rarely threatened a comeback and were fortunate not to concede more goals as Go Ahead missed a number of excellent opportunities to build on their lead.

ADO Den Haag have now gone six games without a win and sit just three points above the relegation zone.

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