Prolific PSV pull clear

By Berend Scholten

Nelisse lifeline
The Ivory Coast striker put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes before Romeo Castelen doubled the scoreline just before half-time. Kalou collected his second goal of the game a minute after the restart, though Robin Nelisse pulled one back for the visitors three minutes later.

Record ends
However, Kalou put the game beyond doubt in the 64th minute with his 17th goal of the season to make the score 4-1. Michael Buskermolen scored late on for Alkmaar, but it was not enough to stop them losing their first game since 21 August.

PSV surge
Their conquerors that day were PSV, who moved further ahead at the summit following a 2-0 home victory against FC Utrecht. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink opened the scoring in the 34th minute with his 15th goal of the season after reacting quickest to a rebound following Wilfred Bouma's free-kick, while Ji-Sung Park struck the second eight minutes later.

Ajax slide
AFC Ajax lost their second game under new coach Danny Blind after a 2-1 defeat at SC Heerenveen. The visitors led at half-time following a 34th-minute Angelos Charisteas strike, but Marcel Seip equalised just past the hour before substitute Georgios Samaras struck the home side's winner three minutes from time.

Penalty equaliser
Consequently, Ajax have been leapfrogged by Feyenoord, while Heerenveen move into fifth, level on points with SBV Vitesse, who drew 1-1 at home against FC Twente. Richard Knopper gave Vitesse a 22nd-minute lead, only for Blaise N’Kufo’s penalty to level matters nine minutes into the second-half.

Seven-goal thriller
Elsewhere, FC Groningen came from 2-0 behind against NEC Groningen, only to throw away a 3-2 lead and lose 4-3 thanks to Andrzej Niedzielan’s goal ten minutes from time. Bottom club FC Den Bosch won their first away game of the season 2-1 against 16th-placed RBC Roosendaal after Jochen Janssen scored twice, in reply to Donny de Groot’s goal.

Roda comeback
Den Bosch are now six points behind De Graafschap, who lost 4-1 against Willem II, while goals from Sergio and Pa-Modou gave Roda JC victory against NAC Breda after David Mendes da Silva had given them the lead. Finally, ADO Den Haag finished goalless with RKC Waalwijk.