Netherlands round-up: Ajax go top
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Article summary
Ronald Koeman's stylish AFC Ajax went to the top of the Eredivisie on Wednesday.
Article body
AFC Ajax soared to the top of the Dutch Eredivisie with a resounding victory over SBV Vitesse on Wednesday that featured a Rafael van der Vaart hat-trick.
Feyenoord fall
With previous leaders Feyenoord losing 3-2 to FC Twente, the three points were enough to lift the Amsterdam giants a point clear of their Rotterdam rivals. The defeat must have been bitter for Vitesse, who lost coach Ronald Koeman to Ajax a fortnight ago.
Top scorer
Netherlands Under-21 star Van der Vaart, whose hat-trick brought his tally for the season to 16, is now top of the Eredivisie charts with 14 league goals. He opened the scoring after 15 minutes, sweeping the ball home when Andy van der Meyde's cross was missed by Stefan Nanu. Vitesse equalised three minutes later through Gert Claessens, but Van der Vaart nosed Ajax back in front with his second in the 26th minute.
Simple finish
John O'Brien doubled Ajax's lead three minutes later but there was more to come from the hosts, whose finishing was almost faultless. Two minutes after half time, Van der Vaart found Van der Meyde on the right side of the penalty area. His shot was saved by Dragoslav Jevric but Wamberto was on hand to tap in the rebound. Van der Vaart completed his hat-trick after 82 minutes with a simple finish.
Goal at both ends
Feyenoord had been on course for a 2-1 away win when Twente struck twice more in the final two minutes. Patrick Pothuizen and then Jack de Gier stunned their illustrious visitors who had already fought back from going a goal down to Scott Booth’s 34th minute goal. First a Pothuizen own goal and then a Pierre van Hooijdonk strike had put Feyenoord firmly in the driving seat, but they had reckoned without Twente’s resilence.
Valuable point for Sittard
SC Heerenveen were comfortable 2-0 home winners over FC Den Bosch. Goals in each half from Marcus Allback and Romano Denneboom did the damage while in Wednesday’s final match bottom club FC Fortuna Sittard earned a valuable point at home to FC Utrecht. The 3-3 draw saw Utrecht twice squander the lead.
