Netherlands round-up: PSV march on

PSV Eindhoven recorded their eleventh consecutive win and maintained their seven-point lead in the Eredivisie table with a narrow 2-1 home victory against NEC Nijmegen.

Kezman on target again
PSV took the lead in Eindhoven after 32 minutes, when Mateja Kezman coolly lifted a penalty into the net for his 23rd goal of the season, only for NEC to draw level eight minute into the second half, as defender Resit Schuurman punished an error by PSV goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus to equalise.

Captain's example
However, PSV sealed all three points midway through the second period, as captain Mark van Bommel scored to secure his side’s 19th win in 23 league matches this season.

Easy for Ajax
Nearest challengers AFC Ajax and Feyenoord enjoyed more comfortable victores, as Ajax retained second place when they eased to a 5-0 win at second-bottom side FC Zwolle on Saturday. Midfield player Rafael van der Vaart marked his return from injury with two goals, while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic also scored twice and an own goal from Zwolle defender Albert van der Haar sealed an easy win for Ronald Koeman's side.

Feyenoord hit six
Feyernoord, who remained four points behind Ajax, enjoyed even more success in front of goal, recording a 6-2 victory at local rivals SC Excelsior in a Rotterdam derby. Goals from Robin van Persie and Thomas Buffel put the away side in control and, although Gil Swerts pulled a goal back for Excelsior, Pierre van Hooijdonk restored Feyenoord’s two-goal advantage before half-time.

Late goals
Bonaverture Kalou made it 4-1 to the away side five minutes into the second period, and although Excelsior's Brett Holman scored another for his side in the closing stages, late goals from Buffel and a Van Hooijdonk penalty rounded off a comprehensive win for the away team.

Waalwijk into fourth
RKC Waalwijk moved up to fourth place with a comfortable 3-0 win against SC Heerenveen. Rick Hoogendorp opened the scoring after 14 minutes, before second-half goals from Yuri Cornelisse and Jason Oost completed an important victory.

Roda defeated
Roda JC slipped to fifth place after suffering a 1-0 loss at AZ Alkmaar on Friday night, with Ali El Khattabi's 52nd-minute goal decisive, while FC Utrecht won 4-1 at SBV Vitesse thanks to two goals from Dirk Kuijt and one each from Stijn Vreven and Paulus Roiha, with the home side’s only response from Bob Peeters.

Narrow victories
Elsewhere, NAC Breda recovered from three successive defeats with a 1-0 win against bottom side De Graafschap thanks to Kevin Bobson’s goal, while FC Groningen enjoyed a 1-0 home victory against RBS Roosendaal thanks to Martin Drent’s strike and FC Twente won 2-1 at Willem II.