Netherlands round-up: PSV held at last
Sunday, April 6, 2003
Article summary
PSV Eindhoven had their 13-match winning run halted by Willem II, who forced a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Article body
PSV Eindhoven had their 13-match winning run halted by Willem II, who held the Dutch First Division leaders to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Kezman off
Arjen Robben gave PSV a 55th-minute lead before Moroccan Tarik Sektioui equalised six minutes later. PSV striker Mateja Kezman was sent off 13 minutes from time and the visitors could not find a winning goal - marking their seventh consecutive game without victory in the Willem II stadium.
Ajax warming up
PSV's slip means their lead at the top is now eight points thanks to AFC Ajax's 4-1 home victory against RBC Roosendaal on Saturday. Ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan on Tuesday, Ajax struggled for more than half an hour before Rafael van der Vaart set them on the path to victory. Brazilian Maxwell and Andy van der Meyde added to the home side's tally before the interval and although Bjorn Daelemans pulled a goal back, Nordin Boukhari struck late on to seal all three points.
Incredible recovery
Third-placed Feyenoord remain a point behind after a remarkable recovery against basement-club De Graafschap. Robin van Persie and Belgian international Thomas Buffel had given the Rotterdam side a 2-0 lead at the break but the game turned on its head after half-time. Buffel and Gerard de Nooijer were both sent off and the home side took full advantage, surging into the lead through goals from Ilja van Leerdam, Jean Paul van Gastel and Hans van der Haar. But nine-man Feyenoord got back on level terms when Bonaventure Kalou found the net on 77 minutes and there was still time for Pierre van Hooijdonk to bury an 85th-minute penalty.
Heerenveen escape
In the day's other games, SC Heerenveen beat Roda JC by the odd goal in five, despite being 2-0 down at half-time, while SBV Vitesse and FC Groningen drew 0-0, as did FC Twente and NAC Breda.
Roelofsen heroics
The other Sunday games included RKC Waalwijk securing fourth spot with a 2-0 win against AZ Alkmaar. Zico Tumba's solitary 82nd-minute goal was enough to give NEC Nijmegen victory in their game against SC Excelsior and a hat-trick from FC Zwolle's Richard Roelofsen helped his side beat FC Utrecht 3-1.
