Eredivisie weekend round up: Feyenoord have new hero in Achahbar

eredivisie logo footballTwo stunning second half Anass Achahbar strikes gave Feyenoord a famous victory over PSV, and may have opened the door for an unlikely Ajax charge for the championship, writes Neil Adderley.

FC Utrecht 3 – 4 NAC Breda: Great escape is on for Maaskant and NAC

An Erik Falkenburg double helped NAC to a stunning win in a seven goal thriller at the Galgenwaard Stadion.

Utrecht were in control until Falkenburg followed up his own header to beat Robbin Ruiter. However, the home side responded almost immediately when Edouard Duplan stole in to equalise on the half hour.

The visitors regained their advantage as Falkenburg nodded home three minutes into the second half, only for Gevero Markiet to restore parity on 71 minutes.

Kenny van der Weg put NAC back in front just four minutes later, before substitute Mats Seuntjes hit the away teams fourth goal.

Despite Rubio Rubin’s late consolation, Robert Maaskant’s men sealed three vital points in their fight for Eredivisie survival.

AZ Alkmaar 2 – 1 Cambuur Leeuwarden: Late Henriksen winner secures AZ win

Goals from Nemanja Gudelj and Markus Henriksen raised AZ hopes of automatic qualification for the Europa League.

Gudelj picked himself up to convert from the spot on eleven minutes, but AZ failed to take a number of chances and were made to pay as Bartholomew Ogbeche levelled after 62 minutes.

Cambuur all but looked ready to take a point back to Friesland until Markus Henriksen ghosted in to grab an injury time winner for the hosts.

Willem II 2 -1 FC Dordrecht: Eredivisie pain continues for Dordrecht

Another defeat for Dordrecht leaves the bottom club ten points from safety with only six games to play.

Ben Sahar, with a goal either side of half time, was Dordrecht’s tormentor as Willem II ran out comfortable winners in the battle of the newly promoted sides.

However, while the Tilburgers are readying a push for the European play-off places, Dordrecht are preparing for an immediate return to the Dutch Jupiler League.

Heracles Almelo 1 – 4 Heerenveen: Smart away victory puts Heerenveen back on track

Heerenveen returned to form with a thumping win at struggling Heracles. Goals from Sam Larsson, Mark Uth and a Luciano Slagveer double provided a perfect response to last weekend’s heavy home defeat at the hands of Ajax.

A first half Thomas Bruns equaliser gave the home supporters a glimmer of hope, but a strong second half performance from the Frisians was more than enough to comfortably secure the spoils for Dwight Lodeweges’ men.

Go Ahead Eagles 0 – 2 Vitesse Arnhem: Eagles defeat spells the end for manager Booy

Go Ahead and Foeke Booy have parted company after a comfortable Vitesse win saw the Eagles drop into the bottom two.

In total contrast to Go Ahead’s form, the Eagles having now lost five games in a row, Vitesse have taken 22 points from a possible 24 to force their way into a three way battle for fourth place in the Eredivisie.

Go Ahead, now facing the real threat of relegation, had no answer to in-form Vitesse who ensured victory with goals from Zakaria Labyad and Marko Vejinovic.

PEC Zwolle 1 – 1 Excelsior: All square as Excelsior hold PEC

Despite dominating for long periods PEC Zwolle failed to break down a stubborn Excelsior.

The excellent Mustafa Saymak had given PEC a deserved lead only for Jeff Stans to equalise for Excelsior just three minutes later.

PEC’s dominance continued throughout but Ron Jans’ side were left kicking themselves after a number of missed opportunities left the hosts having to settle for a point.

Feyenoord 2 – 1 PSV Eindhoven: Anass Achahbar wonder double offers Ajax glimmer of hope

Two stunning second half Anass Achahbar strikes gave Feyenoord a famous victory, and may have opened the door for an unlikely Ajax charge for the championship.

Lex Immers should have given the home side an early lead but the Feyenoord midfielder could only fire wide from close range.

At the other end, Memphis Depay was denied by a fine Kenneth Vermeer stop in what was a scrappy opening period.

With an hour on the clock new Feyenoord hero Achahbar volleyed home superbly from a long punt into the box from Rick Karsdorp.

Depay almost replied instantly for PSV but his shot sailed over Vermeer’s crossbar.

And when a Jean Paul Boetius ball found Achahbar on 63 minutes, the 21-year old controlled on his chest before firing another stunning volley past the helpless Jeroen Zoet.

On 69 minutes Depay brought the visitors back into the game after beating Vermeer with a long, raking drive to set up a hectic final 20 minutes.

PSV pushed for an equaliser but Feyenoord held on to the delight of the supporters. And in turn condemn Philip Cocu’s team to a fifth consecutive defeat at De Kuip.

Groningen 2 – 2 FC Twente: Dominant Groningen have to settle for one point

The hosts, who are becoming one of the Eredivisie’s draw specialists, got off on the front foot against Twente, however, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play.

Renato Tapia hitting a fearsome 12th minute shot past the despairing Sergio Padt.

Tjarron Chery almost brought the sides level as his effort came back off the cross bar, before Groningen deservedly levelled matters on 23 minutes when Lorenzo Burnet beat Twente keeper Nick Marsman.

Groningen continued to dominate but were caught out on the hour mark as Joachim Andersen restored the visitors lead from a Hakim Ziyech free kick.

Ziyech almost sealed an unlikely Twente win but his drive was expertly tipped over the bar by Padt.

And on 80 minutes Groningen were finally rewarded for their dominance when Mimoum Mahi beat Marsman from the edge of the penalty box.

Ajax 1 – 0 Den Haag: Late goal secures vital victory for below par Ajax

Ajax struggled to find a way past ADO Den Haag but a late Davy Klaassen goal saw the Amsterdammers close the gap on leaders PSV to eight points.

The hosts made a number of changes from their midweek Europa League exit, however Frank de Boer’s team again failed to impress.

Defender Ricardo van Rhijn came closest to breaking the first half deadlock on 44 minutes but was denied by a sharp stop from Martin Hansen.

The second period mirrored the first with the home team struggling to breakdown a stubborn ADO, until an 80th Lasse Schone inswinging free-kick was headed home by Klaassen.

With PSV dropping points and despite their stuttering form, Ajax find themselves eight points behind the leaders with six games still to play.

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