Galásek holds his nerve

A last-minute penalty from Czech Republic international Tomáš Galásek edged AFC Ajax to a 3-2 win over AZ Alkmaar and kept the Amsterdam side top of the Dutch First Division.

Bright start
Third-placed AZ started commandingly and Kenneth Perez opened the scoring after five minutes in the Amsterdam Arena but midway through the first half, Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised, then Perez restored the Alkmaar lead.

Galasek decider
The visitors looked on their way to a surprise three points but late in the second half youngster Nigel de Jong scored to make it 2-2 and Galásek settled matters for Ajax, who face RC Celta De Vigo in the UEFA Champions League next week.

Win sealed
Ajax are two points ahead of closest challengers PSV Eindhoven who won 3-1 at NAC Breda and meet AEK Athens FC in Europe. Despite missing skipper Mark van Bommel and top scorer Mateja Kezman, the visitors made sure of the result in the first half.

Engelaar consolation
Theo Lucius opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and two goals from Korean Ji Sung-Park increased the advantage before half-time. Orlando Engelaar pulled one back in the final minute from the penalty spot.

Groningen fightback
Feyenoord remain fourth in the standings with 18 points following their 3-3 away draw with FC Groningen on Sunday. The home team looked to be cruising to an easy win after Antony Lurling, Dirk Kuijt and Patrick Paauwe gave the Rotterdam side a three goal lead at half-time.

Deserved point
Eight minutes after the break Martin Drent put his team back in the match with a header and Brazilian Hugo scored a second for the home side. Substitute Sander van Gessel then levelled the scores a minute before the final whistle to secure a well-deserved point for Groningen.
 
Perfect preparation
FC Utrecht, now in 12th, warmed up for their second-round UEFA Cup tie against AJ Auxerre on Thursday with a 2-1 win against SC Heerenveen. Stefan Tanghe and Bas van de Brink put the Dutch Cup winners two goals up before Richard Knopper pulled one back in the final minute.
 
Waalwijk triumph
Serginho Greene gave RKC Waalwijk a 26th-minute lead at fellow mid-table side Willem II before the hosts came back to prevail 4-1 with goals from Tom Caluwe, James Quinn, Romano Denneboom and Bart van den Eede.

First victory
At the bottom of the table, FC Zwolle grabbed their first win of the season after edging past FC Twente. In Roosendaal, former NEC player Danny Hesp secured RBC's 1-0 win over NEC Nijmegen, scoring ten minutes into the second half.
 
ADO trounced
FC Volendam took a 2-0 lead at half-time against SBV Vitesse through goals from Reginald Faria and Houssein Ouhsaine. Second-half strikes, however, from Gert Claessens and Emile Mbamba saved a point for the Arnhem side who stay 17th in the table. On Friday, Roda JC thrashed ADO Den Haag 5-1 with their first home win this season. Ivan Vicelich scored a hat-trick.