Netherlands: Heerenveen go second

SC Heerenveen eased into second place in the Eredivisie on Friday with a convincing 3-0 defeat of Sparta Rotterdam.

Stunning strike
Two headers, one an own goal and the second from in-form striker Marcus Allbäck, put them on course at half-time before a stunning second-half strike from Romano Denneboom killed off any hopes of a Sparta revival.

Precarious position
The defeat means Sparta's situation at the wrong end of the table becomes more precarious and they will be hauled into the relegation play-off zone should either FC Twente or FC Groningen win this weekend.

Sweden striker
Sparta's Sieme Zijm gifted Heerenveen the lead at the Abe Lenstra stadium as he diverted Mika Nurmela's free-kick from the right wing into his own net. Sweden international Allbäck nodded in Ronnie Venema's cross from the right a minute before the interval to make it 2-0.

Solo run
Denneboom struck the third ten minutes into the second period, capping a tricky solo run with a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area which left Sparta goalkeeper Frank Kooiman clutching at thin air.

Ajax on top
Heerenveen are now two points behind leaders AFC Ajax, but the Amsterdam outfit, who have only played eleven matches this season, have two games in hand over their closest rivals.