Sunday 4 February 2018 20:44, UK
Ajax came from behind to beat NAC Breda 3-1 on Sunday and close the gap on Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven back to seven points.
Erik ten Hag's second-placed side, who drew 0-0 at FC Utrecht last time out, went 1-0 down in the sixth minute when Thierry Ambrose netted.
They had turned things around by half-time, with Donny van de Beek equalising in the 25th minute and David Neres putting them in front with a fine strike in the 39th.
NAC, who are third from bottom, were subsequently reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Bart Meijers was sent off following a tackle on Hakim Ziyech, whose free-kick then wrapped things up.
AZ Alkmaar are five points behind Ajax in third after they were held to a 2-2 draw by second-bottom Roda JC at the AFAS Stadion.
AZ led twice, first through an early Patrick Banggaard own-goal that was cancelled out by Jorn Vancamp, and then via Fredrik Midtsjo, with Tsiy-William Ndenge subsequently producing a second equaliser for the visitors in the 71st minute.
A late Clint Leemans penalty condemned fourth-placed champions Feyenoord to a 1-0 loss at VVV-Venlo.
Leemans converted from the spot in the 88th minute after Renato Tapia's foul on Romeo Castelen.
Rock-bottom Sparta Rotterdam's run of losses came to an end as they registered their first win under Dick Advocaat, a 1-0 home triumph against Willem II that saw Fred Friday score in the 23rd minute.
Sparta had gone into the contest, their fourth match since appointing Advocaat as boss, on an eight-game losing streak.
Elsewhere, Excelsior drew 2-2 with Utrecht at home. After Stanley Elbers' opener for the home side, Marc van der Maarel replied and Utrecht then led through Zakaria Labyad, before Hicham Faik ensured the contest finished all-square.
