AZ Alkmaar maintained their perfect start to the season with a 4-2 home win over Ajax.
AZ Alkmaar maintained their perfect start to the season, moving back to the top of De Eredivisie in the process, with a resounding 4-2 home win over Ajax.The result was especially sweet for AZ boss Louis van Gaal who inflicted defeat on the club he led to UEFA Champions League success.
Ex-Rangers hit-man Shota Arveladze, who played under van Gaal during their time at Ajax, was a key figure for AZ, grabbing a brace against his former employers.
It was the visitors who edged ahead after ten minutes through Dutch international midfielder Wesley Sneijder, but Arveladze handed AZ the initiative with two goals in two minutes shortly before the interval.
However, Ajax refused to be bowed and went in level at the break when Sneijder poached his second of the afternoon.
But the hosts were always in the ascendancy after half time and another double, this time from Kenneth Perez (56 & 58), gave them a lead they were never to surrender.
Feyenoord moved level at the top with AZ with a thumping 5-1 win over Heerenveen.The Rotterdam outfit had to come from a goal down for victory after Ugur Yildirim gave the visitors a surprise lead after just 12 minutes.
Dirk Kuyt levelled matters on 56 minutes before Klaas Huntelaar was sent off for Hereenveen just after the hour mark.
Feyenoord made their numerical advantage count when Andre Bahia fired them in front on 66 minutes and Kuyt netted his second on 73 minutes to put Feyenoord in firm control.
Patrick Paauwe added a fourth three minutes later before Salomon Kalou completed the rout from the penalty spot in the dying seconds.
PSV Eindhoven fell further behind the leading pack after going down 1-0 to Groningen.
Yuri Cornelisse netted the only goal of the game right on the stroke of half time to condemn the champions to defeat.
Utrecht climbed out of the bottom three with a narrow 1-0 win over Vitesse Arnhem.
Hans Somers grabbed the all-important winning goal for Utrecht on 35 minutes to give them their first victory of the campaign.
Willem II picked up their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win at Roda.
Zsombor Kerekes gave Willem II the lead on 21 minutes and Tom Caluwe made sure of the three points with the second goal on 56 minutes.
Match summaries:
AZ Alkmaar 4-2 Ajax
Feyenoord 5-1 Heerenveen
Groningen 1-0 PSV Eindhoven
Roda JC 0-2 Willem II
Utrecht 1-0 Vitesse
