Feyenoord took a big step towards securing a place in next year’s Champions League with a resolute 3-1 win at home to Groningen.
The Rotterdammers were given a boost with the return of centre-back Gernot Trauner after a year-long battle with an achilles tendon injury, and the Austrian’s presence was felt in a much improved defensivce display in the first half.
Jordan Bos put Feyenoord in front when he found the top corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 11th minute, and the Australian created the second when he was brought down by goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen.
New father Ayase Ueda converted the penalty for his 24th goal of the season, but his first from the spot, and scored again in the second half when he turned away from his marker and steered the ball past Vaessen. Thom van Bergen scored a late consolation for Groningen following a blunder by Oussama Targhalline.
Two of Feyenoord’s rivals for second place, Twente and NEC, had to settle for a point apiece, leaving the Rotterdammers three points clear of third-placed NEC.
Twente dominated the first half and took the lead when Sondre Ørjasaeter outmuscled Eli Dasa on the right-hand flank and finished from a tight angle.
Ajax up to fourth
Bryan Linssen equalised against the run of play 10 minutes before the half and NEC took the initiative after the break, with Tjaronn Chery going closest with a shot that rebounded off the crossbar.
At the other end a flying save by Gonzalo Crettaz kept out Robin Pröpper’s header in injury time for Twente.
That result allowed Ajax to move above Twente into fourth place, a point behind NEC, but only after they made hard work of beating relegation-threatened NAC.
Ajax were 2-0 up at the break with the help of a sublime solo goal by Mika Godts. The Belgian ran from the halfway line and squeezed between three defenders in the penalty area before dummying goalkeeper Daniel Bilica and scoring into the empty net.
Oskar Gloukh had given Ajax the lead when Godts found him completely unmarked on the right of the penalty area, but Ajax needed Maarten Paes to be in good form in goal in the second half as NAC probed for an opening.
PSV put on a gala performance before heading off for a long weekend in Ibiza, as they notched up six goals against PEC Zwolle. Esmir Bajraktarevic was the star of the show, scoring twice and setting up the other four, including two for Ricardo Pepi.
The Bosnian’s high point came when he evaded two defenders on the edge of the penalty area before finding the bottom corner with a shot that wrong-footed goalkeeper Tom de Graaff.
Heracles relegated
Heracles’ relegation was confirmed after they lost 2-0 at home to Volendam, who moved out of the drop zone in the process. Substitute Robert Mühren delivered the killer blow with his first touch after coming on in the 62nd minute, after Anthony Descotte had given Volendam the lead seven minutes earlier.
Heerenveen moved closer to a place in the end-of-season play-offs as Marcus Lindsay scored a late winner to complete a comeback win against Fortuna Sittard.
Philip Brittijn had given Fortuna an early lead when he slammed in Dimitrios Limnios’s cutback, but the lead lasted just four minutes as Ringo Meerveld’s shot found the bottom corner.
Excelsior hit five past Utrecht to record their biggest league win for 20 years and boost their chances of survival. Utrecht were reduced to 10 men when Matisse Didden was booked twice in the opening half-hour, while Derensili Sanches Fernandes scored two of the Rotterdammers’ goals.
Telstar’s hopes of staying were also enhanced with a 4-1 win against Sparta, with Sem van Duijn scoring two sublime goals in the second half against his former club, but Sunday’s results pushed them back down into 16th place.
AZ and Go Ahead Eagles played out a goalless draw that dented the visitors’ hopes of finishing in the top nine, which has become a European play-off position following AZ’s cup final win last weekend.
Results
Wednesday
Telstar 4-1 Sparta Rotterdam
Thursday
PSV Eindhoven 6-1 PEC Zwolle
AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Go Ahead Eagles
Saturday
Ajax 2-0 NAC Breda
Feyenoord 3-1 Groningen
Heerenveen 2-1 Fortuna Sittard
Twente Enschede 1-1 NEC Nijmegen
Sunday
Excelsior 5-0 Utrecht
Heracles Almelo 0-2 Volendam
