Netherlands round-up: Heerenveen stay on course

SC Heerenveen kept their European hopes alive tonight with a 2-1 win at De Graafschap.

Allbåck hits home
Marcus Allbåck struck in injury time to clinch the win after Rene Bot had equalised for De Graafschap following Purrel Frankel's 46th-minute own goal. In injury time Sweden international Allbåck tapped into an empty net after substitute Jeffrey Talan dummied goalkeeper Stefan Postma.

Rapid response
The visitors always looked the better side and their flowing football caused problems for De Graafschap, who could count themselves fortunate to go in at the half-time break on level terms. Frankel's own goal just a minute into the second half gave the visitors the lead after he misjudged Anthony Lurling's cross, but Bot levelled just two minutes later, drilling the ball into the back of the net from 12 metres after some flowing football.

Gloom for NAC
Meanwhile, NAC Breda's European dreams took a major blow as they lost 3-1 at home against NEC Nijmegen.  Honours were even at the interval after Frank Demouge had set up Zico Tumba to equalise for the visitors immediately following Kevin Bobson's superb 33rd-minute finish but Demouge wrapped up the points with a double strike for NEC after the break.

Fortune favours Sittard
SC Fortuna Sittard won a stay of execution today with a rare victory against FC Twente. The bottom of the table side kept their mathematical hopes of survival alive thanks to two goalkeeping errors from Twente's Sander Boschker in the second half with Ronald Hamming and Dennis Gerritsen alert in the box to take advantage.

Late penalty saves Willem
In the evening's other games, Danny Lanzaat's late penalty earned Willem II a 2-2 draw as they fought back from going two goals down against AZ Alkmaar while FC Den Bosch celebrated a 3-1 win against Roda JC.