PSV and Anderlecht push ahead

PSV Eindhoven increased their Dutch Eredivisie lead at the weekend as they defeated AZ Alkmaar 2-1 away and Feyenoord drew 1-1 at FC Groningen.

Early ascendancy
Goals within six minutes from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Arouna Koné put the leaders in the ascendancy. Although AZ reduced arrears through Stijn Schaars, the home side could not find their way back into the match. Second-placed Feyenoord's failure to find a winner after Pierre van Hooijdonk cancelled out Mark-Jan Fledderus's opener leaves them seven points behind PSV. AFC Ajax remain in fourth place after triumphing 3-1 at Heracles Almelo.

Advantage Anderlecht
RSC Anderlecht came out on top from this weekend's Belgian results as the teams sharing second spot, Club Brugge KV and R. Standard de Liège, fought out a 1-1 draw. Club Brugge went ahead after 31 minutes when Ivan Leko beat defender Eric Deflandre and finished with a clever lob, but two minutes before the break, Oguchi Onyewu got the better of Gert Verheyen to hit the equaliser. The stalemate moves Anderlecht, 2-0 victors at KSV Roeselare on Friday, two points clear of Standard and Club Brugge.

Gretna glory
In Scotland, third-tier Gretna FC are within 90 minutes of the Scottish Cup final after a 1-0 victory against Saint Mirren FC. Qualified doctor Kenny Deuchar scored the only goal, leaving the club's millionaire chairman Brooks Mileson to say: "It's a dream, Roy of the Rovers stuff." Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC also progressed to the last four with respective 2-1 and 5-1 victories over Partick Thistle FC and Falkirk FC, while second-division sides Hamilton Academical FC and Dundee FC require a replay following a 0-0 draw.

Konstantinou class
Olympiacos CFP recorded their 14th consecutive league win in Greece, 2-1 at PAOK FC. PAOK struck first on six minutes through Mahmoud Shikabala, but Olympiacos equalised through Ioannis Okkas before Michalis Konstantinou completed the comeback with a brilliant individual effort. This kept the champions nine points clear of second-placed AEK Athens FC, who recorded a dramatic 2-1 success over Ionikos FC. Konstantinos Katsouranis's injury-time goal ensured Panathinaikos FC remained three points behind, despite their 2-0 triumph at Akratitos FC.