PSV power into healthy lead

By Berend Scholten

PSV Eindhoven opened up a four-point lead at the Eredivisie summit after easing to a 4-1 victory against NEC Nijmegen, while nearest challengers AZ Alkmaar were held at home.

Hesselink header
Ji-Sung Park and DaMarcus Beasley were both on target as PSV opened a two-goal lead at the Philips Stadion. Although Said Boutahar reduced the deficit ten minutes after the restart, two headed goals in six minutes from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and André Ooijer sealed the points for Guus Hiddink's side.

Four fours
It marked the fourth occasion in the last five matches that PSV have scored four, a run broken only by the 0-0 draw with Alkmaar last weekend. That result had kept Co Adriaanse's side in championship contention but they lost further ground yesterday after a 1-1 draw against Roda JC.

De Cler dismissal
Alkmaar could not find a goal after Tim de Cler's early strike had been cancelled by Pa Modou Kah just after the half-hour mark and the frustration eventually showed when De Cler was dismissed on 88 minutes, along with Roda duo Gregoor van Dijk and Serou Cissé.

Late clincher
Alkmaar are now four behind the leaders and just four ahead of AFC Ajax, who closed the gap for the second successive week with a 2-0 victory against FC Den Bosch. The champions left it late, however, with Daniel de Ridder and Nourdin Boukhari scoring added-time goals.

Utrecht haunted
Fourth-placed Feyenoord defeated fifth-placed FC Utrecht by the same scoreline with goals from Romeo Castelen and Dirk Kuijt - against his old club. But SC Heerenveen failed to capitalise on the slip - Jhon van Beukering scored two as struggling De Graafschap registered their first consecutive wins of the season.

Den Ouden double
Another struggling side, ADO Den Haag, also triumphed against mid-table opposition after Geert den Ouden had twice cancelled out Theo Janssen goals. Roy Stroeve and Cedric van der Gun then made it 4-2 to ADO before SBV Vitesse pulled one back through Igor Gluscevic in added time.

Hoogendorp run
RBC Roosendaal lifted themselves five points clear of Den Bosch as Donny de Groot and Elvis Hammond were both on target in a 2-0 home win against Willem II. Blaise N'kufo gave FC Twente a one-goal victory at FC Groningen, while RKC Waalwijk defeated NAC Breda thanks to Rick Hoogendorp's sixth goal in seven games.