Saturday 28 November 2015 22:40, UK
Michiel Kramer plundered a hat-trick as Feyenoord won the Rotterdam derby 4-2 at Excelsior to move level with Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie.
Feyenoord captain Dirk Kuyt got the visitors off to a flying start at Stadion Woudestein when he headed home after only one minute and six seconds, following up when Tom Muyters saved from Simon Gustafson.
Excelsior rallied as Tom van Weert hit the post, but Feyenoord doubled their lead after 36 minutes when Kramer converted Rick Karsdorp's cross.
The home side pulled a goal back before half-time as Jeff Stans set up Daryl van Mieghem.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men had, though, soon restored a two-goal cushion through Kramer's near-post header 10 minutes into the second half.
Kramer was gifted his treble when latching onto a stray backpass from midfielder Adil Auassar.
Tom van Weert netted a second for the home side in stoppage time, but all three points were already secure to head back over the Nieuwe Maas and on to De Kuip.
Ajax can restore their outright lead with a positive result away to Zwolle on Sunday.
Saturday's late kick-off also saw a first-half hat-trick from Willem II on-loan Ajax midfielder Lucas Andersen in their 3-1 win at FC Twente.
Rene Hake's beleaguered side had been thumped 5-0 at home by Feyenoord last weekend, and found themselves 2-0 down inside 21 minutes.
Anderson set the visitors on their way with a fierce drive into the top corner after 16 minutes, and then soon added a second with a free-kick.
Although Jari Oosterwijk (37) reduced the deficit, Anderson was set up by midfielder Nick van der Velden to complete his treble in stoppage time which effectively ended the match as a contest and saw Willem II win away in the league for the first time.
At the Abe Lenstra Stadion, Mitchell Te Vrede scored twice as Heerenveen beat Roda 3-0.
The home side went ahead after 29 minutes when Te Vrede was first to the rebound after defender Caner Cavlan had hit the woodwork.
Heerenveen were 2-0 ahead six minutes before the break when defender Joost van Aken won the ball in midfield and released forward Luciano Slagveer, who went on to fire his shot into the top corner.
Although Roda - who have not won in the Eredivisie since August 30 - improved in the second half, Te Vrede ended any hopes of a comeback when he netted a third from the penalty spot after 71 minutes after being fouled by defender Bart Biemans.
