Netherlands: Ajax held by De Graafschap

AFC Ajax stretched their lead at the top of Eredivisie on Sunday to three points, but needed to come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with De Graafschap.

Sweet revenge
After a storming start to the season, Ajax have lacked consistency in recent weeks and went behind in the 76th minute. De Graafschap's former Ajax striker, Dennis Schulp, curled a free-kick in from the left to Tim Bakens and he turned the ball back to Martijn Meerdink who slammed home from ten yards.

Quick reply
But Ajax, whose unbeaten league record was shattered by a 5-1 defeat to SC Heerenveen, hit back inside two minutes. Pius Ikedia picked out Wamberto in the box and the Brazilian striker had an easy task to head his fifth of the season.

Brazilian double
NAC Breda continued their fine home form as Feyenoord slipped to their first away league defeat of the campaign, losing 2-1. NAC, unbeaten at the Fuji Film stadium this season, took a 2-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes through Brazilian pair Cristiano and Sergio Pacheco and they held on, despite Jon Dahl Tomasson's strike early in the second half. Feyenoord would have moved second in the table had they won.

Great run
Dirk Kujit's second-half equaliser kept FC Utrecht's impressive home record intact and denied FC Twente new boy Jack de Gier a dream debut in a 1-1 draw. De Gier, who ended a five-month spell in Scotland with Dunfermline Athletic FC this week, scored with his first touch for his new club to put Twente ahead inside the opening 60 seconds. But Utrecht, who had boasted a 100 per cent home record this season before the game, fought back and Kujit levelled after 69 minutes. Utrecht's last home defeat came over 13 months ago, when today's opponents won at the Galgewaard stadium.