Feyenoord felled by Van der Vaart

AFC Ajax restored their four-point lead over PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch First Division on Sunday thanks to a 2-0 defeat of arch-rivals Feyenoord.

Captain fantastic
Captain Rafael van der Vaart opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a brilliant back-heel from a Nicolae Mitea cross and struck again seven minutes later after a defensive mix-up. From that point on, the home side remained in total command and virtually coasted to victory. Feyenoord stay in fourth spot.

Zwolle crushed
Second-placed PSV played on Saturday, crushing FC Zwolle 4-0. Defender Remco Schol put his team behind when he found the net at the wrong end after 25 minutes and Johann Vogel doubled the advantage ten minutes before the break. A second own goal by Yobo settled the match three minutes into the second half and Arjen Robben also chipped in.

Rodríguez leveller
AZ Alkmaar, in third, seemed on their way to a second consecutive loss at RKC Waalwijk but ended up with a 1-1 draw. Khalid Boulahrouz struck first for the home side six minutes after the break but two minutes into added time, full-back Jose Fortes Rodríguez grabbed the equaliser.

Utrecht prevail
Under-strength FC Utrecht, who had seven players missing because of flu, got some help from Roda JC's Sven Vandenbroeck in their 3-1 victory at home. The defender was responsible for an own goal after 29 minutes and Donny de Groot made it 2-0 on the hour. Six minutes later, however, Brazilian Cristiano pulled one back for the visitors. The home side, though, sealed the win with 13 minutes remaining as youngster Richal Leitoe scored the third. The victory took Utrecht up one place to ninth.

Easy points
Willem II climbed into fifth position with a straightforward 3-0 win over NEC Nijmegen. Romano Denneboom broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half, Tom Caluwe made it 2-0 and Belgian striker Bart van den Eede added the third in the final minute.
 
Late winner
Kim Christensen sealed FC Twente's 2-1 triumph over NAC Breda two minutes before the end when he reacted sharply to turn the ball into the net after Sjaak Polak's shot hit the post. Youngster Collins John had opened the scoring after 51 minutes with his seventh goal of the season before Arne Slot set up a tense finale with an equaliser.

Other games
Elsewhere, FC Groningen defeated RBC Roosendaal 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Glen Salmon and Sander van Gessel while ADO Den Haag fought out a 1-1 draw with SBV Vitesse at home in a bottom-of-the table encounter. Peter Hofstede was on target for the home side and Emile Mbamba found the net for the visitors.