PSV Eindhoven will have to wait at least until mid-April to be crowned Eredivisie champions after losing for the second time this season to Telstar, while Feyenoord snatched a late equaliser in the Klassieker against Ajax.
PSV suffered a self-inflicted blow at the end of a competitive first half in Velzen-Zuid when Anass Salah-Eddine received a straight red card for lashing out against Gerald Alders as he tussled with the Telstar defender.
Things got worse for PSV when Patrick Brouwer volleyed home from a free-kick just before the interval. The visitors drew level at the start of the second half with Kilian Sildillia’s header, but Sem van Duijn put Telstar back in front with a shot from the edge of the area before substitute Key Teyan smashed in a third.
PSV still have a formidable 15-point lead with six matches to play, as nearest rivals Feyenoord scored late in Amsterdam to retain the advantage in the battle for the second Champions League place.
A lukewarm Klassieker sparked into life when Sean Steur fired a loose ball past Timon Wellenreuther from the edge of the penalty in the 54th minute for his first senior goal.
Jakub Moder equalised from the penalty spot five minutes from time after Kian Fitz-Jim clipped Jordan Lotomba’s foot as the Feyenoord defender shaped to shoot.
Chery double
NEC missed the chance to close the gap on Feyenoord as they could only manage a point at home against Heerenveen.
Tjaronn Chery opened the scoring in the 19th minute and equalised with a flashing shot early in the second half, after Heerenveen had gone 2-1 up when Ringo Meerveld ran from his own half to score just before the break.
Telstar’s win lifted them out of the bottom three at the expense of Excelsior, who drew at bottom club Heracles.
Sem Scheperman put the Almelo side in front with a tap-in and only a fine save from Stijn van Gassel stopped Lequincio Zeefuik putting Heracles two up just before half-time. Derensili Sanches Fernandes rolled in an equaliser in the 57th minute after being given acres of space on the right.
Second bottom NAC fought hard after going two goals down in two minutes at PEC, as Odysseus Velanas picked out the head of Thijs Oosting for the opener before volleying home the second in a crowded penalty area.
Mohammed Nassoh pulled one back with a header in the 67th minute but NAC’s pressure failed to yield an equaliser.
Twente in touch
Twente are still in the hunt for a Champions League play-off place after two goals in five minutes by Daan Rots and Kristian Hlynsson, both set up by Sam Lammers, allowed the team from Enschede to come from behind to win in Sittard.
Utrecht continued their recent recovery with a 2-0 win against Go Ahead Eagles, with goals by two loan signings, Gijvai Zechiël from Feynoord and 18-year-old Ukrainian striker Artem Stepanov from Bayer Leverkusen.
AZ were brought down to earth after their 4-0 midweek win in Prague as they lost 3-0 at Groningen. Marvin Peersman scored from the penalty spot after Alexandre Penetra brought down Jorg Schreurders, before Thom van Bergen’s neat finish and Tygo Land’s rasping shot made sure of the points.
Sparta eased past Volendam to leave their opponents in the danger zone. Goalkeeper Joël Drommel had a big part in the first goal, starting a move that was finished off by Shunsuke Mito, while Tobias Lauritsen headed in the second from a corner after 32 minutes.
Results
Friday
Heracles Almelo 1-1 Excelsior
Saturday
Fortuna Sittard 1-2 Twente Enschede
PEC Zwolle 2-1 NAC Breda
Sparta Rotterdam 2-0 Volendam
Sunday
Ajax 1-1 Feyenoord
Groningen 3-0 AZ Alkmaar
NEC Nijmegen 2-2 Heerenveen
Telstar 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
Utrecht 2-0 Go Ahead Eagles
