Ajax took over at the top of the Eredivisie table after edging out Heracles Almelo 3-2 while erstwhile pacesetters FC Twente lost their 100% start to the season after slumping to an away defeat at Roda JC.
Defending champions Ajax fell behind after 30 minutes when Willy Overtoom netted but the visitors hit back with a brace from Siem De Jong and an 80th-minute strike from Miralem Sulejmani to go 3-1 ahead.
The Amsterdammers suffered a scare late on when Glynor Plet pulled a goal back in the 88th minute before the away side were reduced to 10 men when Lorenzo Ebecilio got his marching orders in injury time, but Frank De Boer's men held on for the victory.
They are now a point clear at the summit, with Twente slipping to third after losing 2-1 at Roda.
The 2010 Dutch title winners took the lead through Marc Janko in the 35th minute but that advantage lasted just 60 seconds before Roda drew level through Ruud Vormer.
The home side would then go on to take the spoils when Mitchell Donald struck two minutes after half-time.
AZ Alkmaar moved up to second place - leaving the last three Dutch champions occupying the top three spots this evening - after brushing aside Vitesse Arnhem 4-0 thanks to a devastating first-half display.
All four of the 2009 Eredivisie champions' goals arrived during a 23-minute spell prior to half-time, with Pontus Wernbloom (two) , Roy Beerens and Rasmus Elm, from the penalty spot, finding the back of the net.
There was no way back for Vitesse after that and they finished the match with 10 men when Wilfried Bony was sent off with 20 minutes remaining.
In Saturday night's other two matches, RKC Waalwijk and De Graafschap recorded 1-0 wins over ADO Den Haag and NEC Nijmegen, respectively.
RKC moved into the top four thanks to Rick Ten Voorde's 33rd-minute goal at ADO, while De Graafschap's match-winner was Soufian El Hassnaoui, who netted in the 24th minute.
