PSV primed for record

By Berend Scholten

PSV Eindhoven registered a record-equalling eleventh clean sheet in a row as they defeated FC Twente 2-0 but their gap at the top of the Eredivisie remains five after AZ Alkmaar enjoyed their ninth successive win.

Paauwe poor
Gerald Sibon and Phillip Cocu were both on target at the Philips stadium as Guus Hiddink's side cruised to a comfortable win. Sibon struck his second goal in as many games after Twente keeper Cees Paauwe failed to keep out his harmless-looking drive on 15 minutes before Cocu's second-half header gave PSV a share of AFC Ajax's 34-year-old record.

Opdam winner
But AZ remain in the picture after Barry Opdam's 70th-minute goal sealed them all three points at FC Groningen. Barry van Galen had given AZ a first-half lead before South African Glen Salmon brought the home side level just before the hour. It was the side's seventh successive league win, nine including the UEFA Cup.

Heerenveen comeback
Feyenoord are also on a run of sorts, though not a positive one, as their 2-2 draw against SC Heerenveen means Ruud Gullit's side have won just once in five games. Feyenoord looked to be cruising to a win after Thomas Buffel and Dirk Kuijt had given them a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining but late goals from Heerenveen substitute Giorgios Samaras and Ugur Yildirim gave the home side a share of the spoils.

Ajax advance
The result means Feyenoord are fourth after AFC Ajax moved third with a comprehensive 4-1 win against RBC Roosendaal. Ioannis Anastasiou, Maxwell, Julien Escudé and Mauro Rosales were all on target. Edwin de Graaf had briefly brought Roosendaal level midway through the first half.

Paternal pain
Roosendaal remain second from bottom, two points clear of De Graafschap, who conceded an 81st-minute goal against FC Utrecht. With the match seemingly petering out for a draw, Rick Kruys scored the only goal of the game a minute after coming on as substitute to deny his father, De Graafschap coach Gert, a point. De Graafschap play at home against record-seeking PSV next weekend.

Penalty misses
Willem II won by a solitary Kevin Bobson goal against ADO Den Haag after Geert den Ouden and Sjaak Polak both missed penalties, while Said Boutahar also missed a spot kick as NEC Nijmegen had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Roda JC. Jasar Takak's last-minute volley gave RKC Waalwijk a share of the spoils at home against SBV Vitesse Arnhem and NAC Breda scored three in the last half-hour to seal a 3-0 victory against strugglers FC Den Bosch.