Sunday 28 January 2018 19:21, UK
Ajax dropped two points in their effort to close the gap on Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven as they were held to a goalless draw by FC Utrecht at Stadion Galgenwaard.
The Amsterdam side, who went into the match on the back of a five-game winning run, remain second and seven points off the pace at the top after Sunday afternoon's stalemate.
The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and had eight shots on target. David Neres came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half, while Lasse Schone was denied 10 minutes after the break and Joel Veltman's header was kept out with six minutes remaining.
Hosts Utrecht had German striker Lukas Gortler sent off for a second yellow card at the death for time-wasting from the substitute's bench and the result was their third straight league draw.
In the day's late kick-off, Mats Seuntjens and Alireza Jahanbakhsh both scored in an eight-minute first-half spell as AZ Alkmaar took maximum points from their trip to Willem II to keep the pressure on the top two.
Defending champions Feyenoord moved up a spot to fourth as they returned to winning ways thanks to a comfortable 3-1 victory over ADO Den Haag at De Kuip.
All four goals came in the second half, with Tonny Vilhena's header opening the scoring 10 minutes in, while Steven Berghuis and Jens Toornstra scored either side of Lex Immers' reply.
Finally, Jorn Vancamp and Dani Schahin were on target as Roda JC claimed a 2-1 comeback victory at home to Excelsior.
