After a humiliating 0-4 home defeat against Vitesse in the Dutch Cup, reigning champions Ajax Amsterdam recorded a late 2-0 win against Excelsior to finish the first half of the Eredivisie season.
Excelsior were the most dangerous side in Rotterdam, but two substitutes brought Ajax the win Sunday, reports Xinhua.
Mike van der Hoorn's shot earned the visitors the lead in the 83rd minute and Richairo Zivkovic added a second five minutes later.
Also Sunday Feyenoord beat NAC 1-0 in Breda. Striker Colin Kazim-Richards became the match winner with a shot from close range in the far corner.
Vitesse beat Heracles Almelo 3-0, while FC Twente defeated Willem II 3-2 thanks to two injury time goals by Andreas Bjelland and Torgeir Borven.
League leaders PSV Eindhoven finished the year in style with a convincing victory over Go Ahead Eagles (5-0) Saturday.
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PSV were already certain of the 'winter' title and end the first half of the season with 43 points from 17 matches.
Ajax (17-39) trail by four points, followed by Feyenoord (17-31), PEC Zwolle (17-29), FC Twente (17-28) and AZ (17-28).