Netherlands round-up: Kezman keeps PSV on Ajax's tail

PSV Eindhoven beat Feyenoord 2-0 in the Eredivisie today, a result that lifts the champions up into second place in the table, four points behind AFC Ajax, but with a game in hand. Ajax strolled to a comfortable 4-0 win at Sparta Rotterdam.

Mido treble
Ronald Koeman's side are now just three wins away from winning the league after striker Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' hit a hat-trick, consigning Sparta to the relegation play-off's in the process, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic adding a fourth goal towards the end.

Egyptian promise
Ajax's opening goal came in the 34th minute when Egyptian Mido headed in unmarked at the far post from a Hatem Trabelsi cross and after 66 minutes Ibrahimovic's low cross from the right evaded the Sparta defence and Mido turned the ball past keeper Brian Vandenbussche.

Thumping win
Mido completed his hat-trick, converting another Ibrahimovic centre in the 73rd minute and, after setting up two goals, Swedish international Ibrahimovic got his own name on the scoresheet five minutes later.

Kezman to the fore
At the Philips stadium, PSV overcame title rivals and UEFA Cup finalists Feyenoord. Mateja Kezman opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, latching on to a through-ball from strike-partner Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink before rounding goalkeeper Edwin Zoetibier and tapping the ball into an empty net.

Paying the penalty
And 21 minutes from time Dutch international Mark van Bommel went down in the penalty area following a challenge by Patrick Paauwe and although Kezman saw his resulting penalty saved by Zoetibier, the Yugoslavian forward pounced to fire in the rebound.

Roest winner
Elsewhere, FC Utrecht won 2-1 at RKC Waalwijk thanks to a goal five minutes from time from Robert Roest. Earlier, Utrecht had taken the lead in the 31st minute through Igor Gluscevic, only for Yuri Cornelisse to equalise eight minutes into the second period. And Emile Mbamba scored the only goal of the game as SBV Vitesse won 1-0 at FC Groningen, giving their UEFA Cup hopes a major boost as a result.