PSV close gap on Ajax

PSV Eindhoven moved level on points with AFC Ajax at the top of the Dutch First Division despite being held to a scoreless draw away from home by ten-man SBV Vitesse.

Ten men hold on
The best chance for the visitors arrived right at the outset but Arjen Robben was unable to capitalise. Vitesse were reduced to ten men in the 26th minute when Aleksandar Rankovic was sent off for his second bookable offence but the away team were unable to cash in despite efforts from Mateja Kezman and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Missed chance
Ajax missed the chance to make the most of the points dropped by PSV when they surprisingly went down to a 2-0 defeat by FC Twente, for whom Blaise N'Kufo scored in each half. Nevertheless, the Amsterdam club stay top and still have a match in hand over their nearest rivals. The victory moved Twente up to seventh, three points adrift of fourth-placed Feyenoord, held 0-0 at RKC Waalwijk.

Hadouir double
Willem II climbed to fifth after coming from behind to defeat FC Groningen 2-1. Both their goals were scored in the second half by Anouar Hadouir after Sander van Gessel had given the home team the lead. SC Heerenveen moved sixth, defeating Roda JC 2-1.

Out of rut
NAC Breda ended a streak of four consecutive home losses with a 3-2 win against neighbours RBC Roosendaal. Orlando Engelaar was twice on target for the home side, but the best goal - a superb lob - came from Ali Boussaboun. FC Utrecht scored three times in the first 31 minutes to clinch their 3-0 win over lowly FC Volendam, while NEC Nijmegen beat FC Zwolle 1-0.