Ajax torn apart by Heerenveen

Two goals from Mika Väyrynen helped SC Heerenveen blow the Eredivisie title race wide open with an astonishing 4-1 defeat of leaders AFC Ajax on Wednesday.

Wasted advantage
Väyrynen struck first a minute before half-time to rattle Ajax, who still lead the table by six points but no longer have a game in hand over second-placed PSV Eindhoven. On the hour, Richard Knopper doubled the home side's advantage and by the time Väyrynen added his second ten minutes later, Ajax were a beaten side.

Streak halted
Jesper Håkansson made it 4-0 with eight minutes remaining and although a Petter Hansson own goal gave the visiting fans something to celebrate, it proved far too little, too late. After bringing to a halt Ajax's run of six straight Eredivisie victories, Heerenveen remain in fifth position, but are now just two points behind Feyenoord.

Van der Gun shot
Elsewhere, ADO Den Haag strengthened their battle for survival from relegation with a 1-0 win against high-flying Roda JC, who had gone five games undefeated before their trip to the Zuiderparkstadion. Cedric van der Gun's 18th-minute goal proved enough for the home team to take their recent tally to seven points from three matches, a run which has lifted Rinus Israel's side clear of the drop zone.

Spoils shared
In the evening's other game, NAC Breda shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with FC Groningen, a point taking the home side above RBC Roosendaal into the top half of the table.