Netherlands: Sikora secures Vitesse victory

A stunning Victor Sikora goal sealed SBV Vitesse's 2-0 win against Roda JC on Saturday to leave the Arnhem side in second place in the Eredivisie after 14 games.

Incredible shot
Sikora received the ball just inside the Roda half in the 70th minute before striding forward and launching a fulminating shot which cracked against the angle of the crossbar and post before nestling in the Roda goal.

Level on points
It was no more than Vitesse deserved after taking the lead over an injury-stricken Roda side through Remco van der Schaaf's seventh-minute effort. The midfielder was played in by Sikora before driving his shot past Roda goalkeeper Bas Roorda. Vitesse are now level with leaders AFC Ajax on 26 points although the Amsterdam side have two games in hand.

NAC hit five
Saturday was a good day for NAC Breda too as their 5-0 defeat of FC Groningen lifted them to fourth place in the table, though it will be a day that Groningen defender Mohammed Allach would rather forget as he conceded a penalty, received a yellow card and scored an own goal to give the home team a 2-0 half-time lead. Goals from Tamas Peto, Ernie Stewart and Sergio Pacheco's completed the rout after the break.

Heerenveen falter
SC Heerenveen's title ambitions were dented by a scoreless draw at home to FC Twente. Twente dominated the match from start to finish and only wasteful finishing stood between them and three points.

Waalwijk trounce Sittard
RKC Waalwijk were 4-1 winners away to SC Fortuna Sittard with Yuri Cornelisse (21), Robert Fuchs (30), Jochen Jansen (40) and Carlos van Wanrooy (54) breaking Sittard's resolve before the home side restored a little dignity as Dennis Gerritsen played a one-two with Patrick van Diemen before rounding RKC goalkeeper Rob van Dijk and walking the ball home.

Sparta slump
It was a miserable day for Sparta Rotterdam coach Frank Rijkaard as his side slumped to a 3-0 defeat against De Graafschap. Martin Meerdink (11), Peter van Vossen (69) and Ruslan Valeev (87) secured the victory and to compound coach's woes Sparta had Nordin Boukhari dismissed for violent conduct.