NEC Nijmegen boosted their hopes of playing in next season’s Champions League as they pulled off a second 3-2 win against PSV in less than two weeks.
Veteran striker Bryan Linssen scored two poacher’s goals in the first half to give NEC a two-goal cushion in the Philips Stadium, but Killian Sildillia pulled one back for the league leaders just before half-time.
Jesper Cillessen repelled an onslaught at the start of the second half before Youssef El Kachati’s powerful shot restored NEC’s two-goal advantage.
Couhaib Driouech found an opening in a crowded penalty area to score PSV’s second, but it was too late to make a difference.
Feyenoord stay second after coming from behind to win a tricky derby clash with Excelsior, with Ayase Ueda scoring twice in two minutes in the second half to decide the game.
Excelsior took advantage of Feyenoord’s sluggishness in the first half when goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel launched the ball upfield towards Arthur Zagré, who twisted his way past Oussama Targhalline before firing low into the corner.
Ajax revival
If Feyenoord fail to beat Ajax in the Klassieker next Sunday, PSV will have the chance to wrap up the title when they kick off against Telstar immediately afterwards.
Ajax put on a free-flowing display for new interim head coach Oscar García, recording their biggest win of the season so far against Sparta.
Joshua Kitolano diverted a Steven Berghuis free-kick into his own net for Ajax’s first goal before the veteran midfielder scored the second with a tip-up and volley in the penalty area.
Ajax had several good chances to add to the scoreline in the second half but added just two, with Mika Godts setting up Davy Klassen before dribbling past two defenders for the fourth.
Heracles’s woes deepened as they went down by the same scoreline at AZ, with Troy Parrott opening the scoring with his 14th goal of the season after just five minutes and setting up Sven Mijans for the second on the stroke of half-time.
In the second half AZ made sure as Parrott laid on a third for Mees de Wit and Isak Jensen smashed in a late free-kick.
Heracles are five points adrift at the foot of the table, but had the consolation of seeing all their rivals lose, including Excelsior and NAC Breda.
Eagles soar
NAC suffered the heaviest defeat of the weekend, going down 6-0 to Go Ahead Eagles, who themselves took a giant step towards safety with Jakob Breum scoring a hat-trick.
Volendam went down 2-1 at home to Fortuna Sittard, as Mohamed Ihattaren’s cultured left foot found the heads of Paul Gladon and Dimitrios Limnios to put the visitors in charge at half-time.
Ihattaren’s departure with a hamstring injury early in the second half changed the complexion of the game, but Volendam’s only reward for their efforts was a late tap-in by Robert Mühren.
Telstar paid the price for missing a string of chances at Heerenveen, who took the lead when Ronald Koeman spilled a shot against the legs of Lasse Nordas. In the second half a free-kick by Maxence Rivera and a tidy finish by Jacob Trenskow made sure of the points as Heerenveen moved up to seventh place.
Twente’s 16-match unbeaten run came to an end against Utrecht, as Artem Stepanov tucked away a rebound before Gjivai Zechiël set up Ángel Alarcón to put away the second.
The only draw of the weekend came in Zwolle on Friday night, as Koen Kostons put PEC in front in the 81st minute when Younes Namli’s shot came back off the post and landed at his feet. But two minutes Thom van Bergen headed in Younes Taha’s free-kick for his third goal in as many games.
Results
Friday
PEC Zwolle 1-1 Groningen
Saturday
Ajax 4-0 Sparta Rotterdam
Heerenveen 3-0 Telstar
PSV Eindhoven 2-3 NEC Nijmegen
Volendam 1-2 Fortuna Sittard
Sunday
AZ Alkmaar 4-0 Heracles Almelo
Feyenoord 2-1 Excelsior
Go Ahead Eagles 6-0 NAC Breda
Twente Enschede 0-2 Utrecht
