AZ Alkmaar maintained their grip on second place with a gritty win at Groningen.
AZ Alkmaar maintained their grip on second place with a gritty win at Groningen, while Ajax had a comfortable home success against RBC Roosendaal.Goals from Dutch international Barry van Galen and Barry Opdam sandwiched an effort from Glen Salmon to lift AZ over Groningen.
Ajax had a more comfortable afternoon, as goals by Yannis Anastasiou, Maxwell, Julien Escude and Mauro Rosales gave them a 4-1 win over RBC. Edwin de Graaf replied for the visitors.
A fine second half display lifted NAC Breda to a 3-0 win over Den Bosch. Ali Boussaboun, Mike Zonneveld and Yuri Cornelisse were the successful marksmen for the home side.
De Graafschap's woes continued, as a late goal from Rick Kruys lifted Utrecht to a 1-0 win over the league's basement side.
Heerenveen came back from two goals down to take a point from their home clash with Feyenoord.
A defeat to Groningen last week dented the title hopes of Ruud Gullit's side and this point at the Abe Lenstra will do little to raise the mood in Rotterdam.
Thomas Buffel has been in the news in recent weeks, with Tottenham rumoured to be keen on the forward, and he did his status no harm by netting the opener shortly before the break.
Feyenoord looked in complete control when Dirk Kuyt handed them a cushion with 20 minutes remaining.
However, Gullit's men had not counted on a spirited response from Heerenveen who snatched a point thanks to goals from Georgios Samaras and Ugur Yildirim.
