PSV Eindhoven and Ajax continued their winning run but Feyenoord slumped to another defeat in the Dutch Eredivisie football tournament.
Reigning champions PSV had no problems with NEC, winning 3-0 on Sunday. Luuk de Jong headed in a cross by Jetro Willems to give the visitors the lead in the 15th minute and in the second half Jurgen Locadia and Marco van Ginkel added the second and third goals, reports Xinhua.
Ajax beat FC Groningen 2-1. With Mike van der Hoorn and Nick Viergever as new central defending duo, instead of injured Kenny Tete and Jairo Riedewald, and without coach Frank de Boer, who was absent due to illness, Ajax were not able to impress.
In the second half, Ajax gained more control and came in front through Anwar El Ghazi. The striker netted from close range.
After Hans Hateboer brought down Amin Younes in the penalty area, Ajax received a penalty, which was converted by Lasse Schone. Ajax finished the match with ten men due to a second yellow card for Van der Hoorn and former Ajax player Danny Hoesen produced Groningen's consolation goal from a free-kick in injury time.
Also on Sunday, Feyenoord had their seventh consecutive defeat by losing 1-3 at PEC Zwolle. Lars Veldwijk opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Sven van Beek equalised four minutes from half-time. But in the second half, Veldwijk and Kingsley Ehizibue secured the home victory.
On Saturday, AZ Alkmaar continued their superb form by getting their sixth win in a row, a spectacular 6-3 win against Heracles. FC Twente picked up their third consecutive win by defeating Roda JC 1-0 in Kerkrade and Vitesse was too strong for SC Heerenveen, winning 3-0.
PSV maintained the first position with 56 points from 23 matches, followed by main rivals Ajax (55), Heracles Almelo (38), AZ (37), Vitesse (36) and, dropping from fourth place, Feyenoord (36).