Netherlands round-up: Late goal keeps PSV clear

PSV Eindhoven left it late to claim their tenth straight victory and stay seven points clear of AFC Ajax in the Dutch First Division.

Robben winner
While PSV's performance may not have been perfect, the Eindhoven club's ability to claim maximum points once more edged them towards their 17th Eredivisie title. Midfield player Arjen Robben scored the only goal of the game deep into added time to dent mid-table SC Heerenveen's resistance, while PSV goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus earned his fourteenth clean sheet of the season.

Seven-point lead
In a match seemingly destined to finish goalless, captain Mark van Bommel fed the Dutch Under-21 international and he beat Heerenveen keeper Hans Vonk to stun the home crowd inside the Abe Lenstra stadium. Guus Hiddink' side maintained their seven-point lead over champions Ajax, who had midfield player Steven Pienaar to thank as they overcame SBV Vitesse 2-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Pienaar double
Pienaar, who signed an improved contract with Ajax on Friday, continued his excellent form this season as he opened the scoring on 27 minutes with a deflected shot. The South African midfield player then doubled his side's advantage with a well-taken second in the final minute to make sure of the three points.

Van Hooijdonk on target
Feyenoord, third in the table and four points adrift of Ajax, struggled against NAC Breda but eventually secured a far from convincing 2-1 home victory. NAC took a surprise lead through Ali Boussaboun after six minutes, but Thomas Buffel drew the UEFA Cup holders level nine minutes later. Chances came and went for both sides, before Pierre van Hooijdonk scored the decider four minutes before the final whistle to claim his fourteenth goal of the season.

Roda held
Fourth-placed Roda JC dropped two points on Friday when they could only manage a 1-1 draw against struggling De Graafschap in Doetinchem. Jean Paul van Gastel gave the home side the lead halfway the first half, but Tom Soetaers drew the visitors level ten minutes after the interval. At the bottom of the table, FC Groningen beat FC Zwolle 4-0, with goals from Ignacio Tuhuteru, Martin Drenth and a double by Milan Krstev.

More woe for Excelsior
Elsewhere, SC Excelsior lost at home for the fourth successive match, going down 2-1 at the hands of RKC Waalwijk. RBC Roosendaal distanced themselves from the drop zone after beating Willem II thanks to Ebou Sillah's 63rd-minute goal, while FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar played out a goalless draw at the Het Diekman stadium.