Eredivisie weekend round up: Ajax bid farewell to Cruijff with fitting victory
Eredivisie action returned after the international break as Ajax, and supporters across the Netherlands, said farewell to footballing hero Johan Cruijff writes Neil Adderley.
De Graafschap 2 v 2 Cambuur Leeuwarden: Battle of bottom two ends all square
A Vincent Vermeij header gave De Graafschap a 23rd minute lead but Calvin MacIntosch responded almost immediately for Cambuur.
The visitors grabbed the initiative and the lead when substitute Kevin van Veen fired home a 61st minute free kick.
However, an inexplicable 75th minute fumble from Cambuur keeper Harm Zeinstra, allowed De Graafschap captain Ted van de Pavert to bundle home an equaliser.
AZ Alkmaar 2 v 4 PSV Eindhoven: PSV cruise past AZ
Two late AZ goals could not take the shine off a comfortable win for PSV in Alkmaar.
Gaston Pereiro opened the scoring for the visitors in the 15th minute, and PSV doubled the advantage through Marco van Ginkel before the break.
Luciano Narsingh followed up his winner at Wembley on the hour mark, before Van Ginkel claimed his second and PSV’s fourth goal on 64 minutes.
A header from substitute Jop van der Linden, and a Muamer Tankovic strike proved to be no more than late consolation goals for the disappointing home side.
Feyenoord 3 v 0 Excelsior: Kuijt at the double in easy derby win
Feyenoord strolled to victory in the Rotterdam derby with a Dirk Kuijt double and a Eljero Elia strike.
A Jens Toornstra outswinging corner was met at the near post by Kuijt on 22 minutes, before Toornstra claimed a second assist on the half hour by setting up Elia.
Excelsior never looked like threatening a comeback, and the points were sealed for Feyenoord as Toornstra again turned supplier as Kuijt tapped in after 58 minutes.
Heracles Almelo 1 v 1 Utrecht: All square in top six battle
Both teams settled for a draw in a tight affair in Almelo.
After a very cagey first half in which neither keeper was troubled, Jaroslav Navratil eventually opened the scoring for Heracles after 55 minutes.
The lead was short lived as Andreas Ludwig put the visitors level.
Utrecht pushed for the win but Heracles keeper Bram Castro twice denied Ruud Boymans as the home side held on for a point.
Willem II 2 v 3 Twente: Ziyech masterclass as Twente reverse two goal deficit
Hakim Ziyech was yet again in a class of his own as Twente fought back from two down to take all the points in Tilburg.
Erik Falkenburg scored his tenth goal of the season after only 15 seconds, before Ajax loanee Lucas Andersen added a second for Willem II before the break.
However, the seemingly commanding lead was halved as Ziyech beat Kostas Lamprou at his near post on 57 minutes.
The Moroccan playmaker then turned provider as his shot was parried by Lamprou before Chinedu Ede followed up to level matters.
And it was left to Ziyech to round off a stunning Twente comeback with a glorious free kick fit to win any game.
NEC Nijmegen 2 v 1 Vitesse Arnhem: NEC claim victory in Gelderse derby
Winger Anthony Limbombe was the hero in Nijmegen as NEC were victorious over rivals Vitesse.
The young Belgian opened the scoring before halftime showing control and precision to beat Eloy Room in the Vitesse goal.
And when Room misjudged a 75th minute corner from Limbombe, Dario Dumic tapped home to double the lead.
Chelsea loanee Lewis Baker pulled a goal back for Vitesse after 83 minutes, but promoted NEC held on for a famous victory.
ADO Den Haag 0 v 1 Groningen: Ten man Groningen finally stop the rot
Groningen arrived in Den Haag on a run of six consecutive defeats, and the omens did not bode well when Michael de Leeuw was given his marching orders after just half an hour.
While ADO dominated possession they rarely threatened Sergio Padt in the Groningen goal, and with 15 minutes left on the clock the visitors conjured up a winner from an unlikely source.
Awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal, up stepped Groningen captain Rasmus Lindgren to rifle an unstoppable drive past a disbelieving ADO keeper Martin Hansen.
The home side failed to respond and Groningen held on comfortably to claim all the points and halt a terrible run of form.
Roda JC 1 v 2 Heerenveen: Last gasp Van den Boomen free kick wins it for Frisians
A tight affair in Kerkrade was eventually broken as Arber Zeneli nodded home a Luciano Slagveer cross to give the visitors a lead.
Roda substitute Kristoffer Peterson struck the upright before Tom van Hyfte reacted quickest to net the rebound.
It seemed the game was heading for a draw, but Van den Boomen hit a tight angled 92nd minute free kick beyond the Roda keeper to give Heerenveen all the points.
Ajax 3 v 0 PEC Zwolle: Ajax return to top on emotional day in Amsterdam
Ajax and its supporters paid an emotional tribute to Dutch footballing legend Johan Cruijff before claiming victory over PEC Zwolle.
Lasse Schone opened the scoring after only two minutes, heading home a Nick Viergever cross.
In form Arkadiusz Milik doubled the Amsterdammers advantage after good work from Riechedly Bazoer, and the Polish strikermade it 30 with a low strike ten minutes later.
Milik was denied a hat trick after hitting the bar, while Viktor Fischer and Daley Sinkgraven failed to add to Ajax’s tally.
The win moves Ajax back above PSV at the top of the table.
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