Improving Ajax move second

By Berend Scholten

Hedwiges Maduro scored an added-time winner as AFC Ajax twice came from behind to edge a five-goal thriller at Feyenoord and climb up to second after AZ Alkmaar dropped points again.

Late comeback
Ajax looked to be heading for defeat as they went into the final five minutes 2-1 down, but Zdenek Grygera equalised on 86 minutes and then in the second minute of added time, centre-back Maduro gave the Amsterdam outfit victory. The goals completed a frenetic second half that saw the home side twice take the lead.

Kuijt strike
Salomon Kalou broke the deadlock just after the restart and although Nigel de Jong equalised nine minutes later following good work from Steven Pienaar, Dirk Kuijt restored the advantage with only ten minutes remaining. It was the Dutch striker's 23rd goal of the season, and looked to have secured a crucial return to winning ways for Ruud Gullit's side before Grygera launched a late comeback.

Alkmaar falter
The result all but ends Feyenoord's UEFA Champions League qualification hopes, but Ajax's are very much alive as they sidled into second place after Alkmaar were held to a 1-1 draw by NAC Breda. The match started brightly for the home side, looking to recover after two successive defeats, as Tarek Sektioui broke the deadlock on six minutes. But Ali Boussaboun equalised with 20 minutes remaining to deny Alkmaar a much-needed win.

PSV prosper
PSV Eindhoven capitalised on the slip to move 14 points clear at the top with a 1-0 win at Willem II. After scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out that sent the side through to the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, Brazilian striker Robert capped off a great week with a header just after the hour.

Twente win
FC Twente moved into fifth and the final UEFA Cup qualification berth after goals from Dmitri Shoukov and Peter Niemeyer helped them to a 2-1 victory against NEC Nijmegen. The rise came at the expense of SBV Vitesse, who lost 3-1 against SC Heerenveen despite leading at the break through a Matthew Amoah strike.

Strugglers defeated
At the bottom, FC Den Bosch were defeated 2-1 by FC Groningen and remain three points behind De Graafschap, who lost 4-2 at home against an RKC Waalwijk side largely inspired by Jason Oost's hat-trick. Elsewhere, Roda JC won 3-2 against FC Utrecht.