Wednesday 5 April 2017 23:52, UK
Jens Toornstra scored a hat-trick as Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord thrashed struggling Go Ahead Eagles 8-0.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men produced a dominant first-half display at De Kuip and were five goals up at the break thanks to a double from Toornstra and strikes from Eljero Elia, captain Dirk Kuyt and Jan-Arie van der Heijden.
Brazilian defender Eric Botteghin and forward Michiel Kramer continued the demolition in the second period before Toornstra completed his treble in the final minute to compound a miserable evening for the second-bottom visitors.
Second-placed Ajax, who beat Feyenoord 2-1 on Sunday, remain three points behind the Rotterdam club after beating AZ Alkmaar 4-1 at the Amsterdam Arena.
Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traore volleyed home Justin Kluivert's low cross to open the scoring with 16 minutes played but Wout Weghorst restored parity 10 minutes into the second period.
Colombia international defender Davinson Sanchez put Peter Bosz's side back in front before late goals from Lasse Schone and Amin Younes wrapped up the three points.
In the evening's opening game, Navarone Foor claimed the winner as fifth-placed Vitesse Arnhem beat Heracles 1-0 in a match which saw both sides finish with 10 men.
Midfielder Foor put the visitors ahead two minutes shy of half-time and Heracles' task became more difficult when defender Robin Propper was shown two yellow cards in the space of five minutes early in the second half. Vitesse full-back Kevin Diks was also dismissed after picking up his second booking late on.
Elsewhere, Mimoun Mahi's opener and a first career goal for 19-year-old Juninho Bacuna gave Groningen a 2-0 victory over NEC Nijmegen, while ADO Den Haag boosted their survival hopes by winning 2-1 at Twente thanks to strikes from Abdenasser El Khayati and Mike Havenaar, either side of Obbi Oulare's leveller.
