Ajax lose ground on PSV

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Ajax lost ground on Eredivisie leaders PSV with a 2-0 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday, while VVV Venlo were thrashed by Vitesse Arnhem.

PSV replaced Twente as leaders courtesy of a 4-2 win over Excelsior on Saturday, with Twente slipping to second after a 2-1 defeat at NAC.

Six points now separate PSV from third-placed Ajax after the visitors were unable to trouble AZ at the Almaarderhout.

Two goals in three second-half minutes, the first from Pontus Wernbloom and the second through Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, were enough for AZ to collect all three points.

Ajax finished the match with 10 men after the 89th minute dismissal of former Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer.

VVV were on the wrong end of a 5-1 hammering at home to Vitesse.

Goals from Wiljan Pluim and Julian Jenner saw the visitors take a two-goal lead before the half-time break at De Koel, before VVV pulled one back through a Ruud Boymans penalty.

Any hint of a comeback was swiftly quashed through a quick-fire Marcus Pedersen brace, followed by an Ismail Aissati strike one minute from time.

Defeat leaves VVV second bottom with just nine points from a possible 42.

Heracles sprung a surprise, beating fourth-placed Groningen 3-0.

Samuel Armenteros put the hosts in front four minutes before half-time at the Polman Stadion, before Everton Ramos da Silva made it two in the 74th minute.

Mark Looms rounded off the scoring with a strike six minutes from time.

Feyenoord let a one-goal lead slip and were fortunate to escape with a point after going 2-1 down in the second half of their home game against Heerenveen.

Luc Castaignos put the hosts ahead after 11 minutes at De Kuip Stadion and Feyenoord held the lead at the interval, before goals from Finland's Mika Väyrynen and Sweden international Viktor Elm turned the match on its head.

Feyenoord's salvaged a point with an 81st minute equaliser from Jerson Cabral.

NEC Nijmegen snatched a 1-1 draw at home to ADO Den Haag.

The hosts trailed for most of the second half after a Nathaniel Will own goal put ADO ahead 39 minutes in at De Goffert.

Will's blushes were spared by team-mate Ramon Zomer, who levelled for NEC with virtually the last kick of the game.

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