Twente had started the weekend level on 37 points with PSV Eindhoven but second on goal difference. Their rivals could only draw on Saturday night but remain a point clear now after rampant Heerenveen enjoyed victory through Oussama Assaidi's hat-trick and goals from Viktor Elm, Luciano Narsingh and Mika Vayrynen. Nacer Chadli had twice pulled Twente level but they were eventually outplayed by their opponents. FC Groningen maintained their unlikely title push with an impressive 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in a bad-tempered clash which saw both teams finish with 10 men. Tim Matavz was the hero for the hosts with both goals as they moved up to third, just two points behind PSV. Groningen almost undid their good work when they had Tim Sparv sent off after 78 minutes, but the numbers were levelled up 11 minutes later with Hector Moreno also seeing red. A goal after little more than 10 minutes by Christian Eriksen guided Ajax to a 1-0 victory at Vitesse Arnhem and to within three points of the leaders. Eriksen stroked the ball home from Demy De Zeeuw's pass after 11 minutes as the Amsterdammers claimed their fifth away win of the season. The result guided Ajax to fourth but it keeps the hosts perilously close to the drop zone. Feyenoord edged out Excelsior by the same scoreline to stretch their unbeaten run to three matches as they continue to attempt to turn their campaign around. A first-half strike from Luc Castaignos proved enough to earn the Rotterdam side their fifth win of the season - and second in their last three league matches - to move them five points clear of their opponents.
