Ajax return to pole position

AFC Ajax coasted to a 4-0 victory against ADO Den Haag on Sunday to regain the Dutch first division lead ahead of their top-of-the-table encounter with PSV Eindhoven next weekend.

Nightmare debut
Former Tottenham Hotspur FC midfield player Kazuyuki Toda began his ADO career in unpromising fashion, knocking in an own goal after six minutes. Victor Sikora doubled the lead on the 20-minute mark and Wesley Sneijder effectively wrapped up the three points before half-time. Romanian Nicolae Mitea collected the fourth goal after the interval.

Light work
PSV went temporarily top of the standings on Saturday, making light work of SBV Vitesse in a 3-0 win. John de Jong paved the way to victory with a goal just before the break while Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Arjen Robben made the result safe. Ajax and PSV both have 46 points but the Amsterdam side are top by virtue of having played a match less.

Late comeback
Third-placed Feyenoord fought off a late comeback from FC Twente to prevail 3-2. German midfield player Thomas Buffel scored twice and Dirk Kuijt was also on target before Sjaak Polak and Ramon Zomer set up a nervous finale with a goal apiece. The teams meet again in the Dutch Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Surprise win
Relegation strugglers FC Volendam, without recently sacked coach Henk Wisman, collected a surprise 1-0 win at FC Groningen to climb two places to 15th. With 14 minutes remaining Maurice Buys sealed their fourth win with a penalty and the home side finished with ten men once Mathias Floren had been dismissed.

Two draws 
FC Zwolle, meanwhile, grabbed a point in a 1-1 home draw with FC Utrecht. Jasar Takak put the hosts ahead in the eleventh minute but Abdelhali Chaiat levelled. Willem II and NAC Breda also shared the points as their derby ended 1-1. Johan Elmander opened the scoring for the visitors, but Tom Caluwe equalised three minutes from time.

Kone double
In other matches played on Saturday, Arouna Kone struck twice as Roda JC overcame AZ Alkmaar 3-1 while NEC Nijmegen edged out RKC Waalwijk 2-1 on their travels courtesy of goals from Jardar Simr and Frank Demouge.