The home side were in front after five minutes through Demy De Zeeuw and second-half goals from Siem De Jong, Lorenzo Ebecilio and Vurnon Anita put the result beyond doubt. AZ's miserable afternoon was completed by the 74th-minute dismissal of substitute Graziano Pelle just three minutes after coming off the bench. Ajax close the gap on leaders PSV Eindhoven to five points, and trail second-placed FC Twente by two. FC Groningen fell out of the top four with a 4-1 hammering at home to Heracles Almelo. Marko Vejinovic had put the home side ahead but they then missed a penalty from Andreas Granqvist, and braces from Everton da Silva and Samuel Armenteros turned things in Heracles' favour. The result means Groningen have lost their last three games, conceding 13 goals in the process. Feyenoord put further space between themselves and the drop zone with a fortuitous 1-0 victory at Heerenveen. Luc Castaignos scored the only goal 12 minutes from time against the run of play as the Rotterdam club extended their unbeaten league run to five matches. A late goal from Leon de Kogel snatched a 1-1 draw for FC Utrecht in their mid-table clash with Roda. The visitors held the advantage for much of the match thanks to Mads Junker's first-half penalty, but their defence was eventually breached by substitute De Kogel eight minutes from time.
