Saturday 18 November 2017 22:41, UK
Donny van de Beek fired a hat-trick as Ajax chalked up one of their biggest league wins by thrashing NAC Breda 8-0.
Midfielder Van de Beek and teenage defender Matthijs de Ligt both scored twice in the first period as Ajax raced into a 5-0 half-time lead at the Rat Verlegh Stadion.
Brazilian forward David Neres was also on target before the break, while Van de Beek added his third in the second half after Lasse Schone (penalty) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also got in on the act.
Ajax have struggled to keep pace with leaders PSV Eindhoven this season and lost 2-1 at home to FC Utrecht in their previous match, but have closed the gap on their rivals, who play at PEC Zwolle on Sunday, to five points.
Damian van Bruggen's late equaliser denied reigning champions Feyenoord their first league win in five matches and earned VVV Venlo a 1-1 draw at De Kuip.
Feyenoord appeared to be heading for their first league success since early October thanks to Nicolai Jorgensen's 54th-minute effort, but Van Bruggen's effort from outside the penalty area earned his side a point.
Heerenveen halted their five-game winless run in emphatic fashion by beating FC Twente 4-0 at De Grolsch Veste, and Willem II hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home against Sparta Rotterdam.
