AZ maintain advantage over Ajax

Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar left it late to win against NEC Nijmegen while Dario Cvitanich scored a hat-trick for second-placed AFC Ajax as they kept up the pressure with a 3-0 victory over ADO Den Haag.

Suárez assists
Graziano Pelle scored the only goal in Alkmaar, his effort coming in the 75th minute against NEC who drop to eighth. AZ remain three points clear of Ajax as Luis Suárez set up his strike partner Cvitanich for all three of his goals. His first came in the seventh minute when he rounded goalkeeper Robert Zwinkels and he added a second in the 18th minute. The Argentinian striker completed his treble just before the hour mark and after the final whistle, the non-playing Klaas Jan Huntelaar said his official goodbye to the Amsterdam club before joining Real Madrid CF. SC Heerenveen moved into sixth after a 3-2 win at FC Groningen, who they jump above, and FC Utrecht climbed to ninth following a 3-1 home success over Roda JC.