Ruiz scored in the 46th, 49th, and 50th minutes, the second a penalty, in a frenetic period of play that also saw Sparta's Milano Koenders sent off. The triumph put Steve McClaren's Twente seven points clear ahead of Ajax's clash with FC Groningen tomorrow. Elsewhere, Jeremain Lens struck a hat-trick as AZ Alkmaar survived a Heracles Almelo comeback to triumph 3-2 and keep the pressure on for a Europa League place. AZ looked to be coasting to a comfortable win when Lens fired them 2-0 ahead before they were pegged back by second-half goals from Darl Douglas and Samuel Armenteros. But Lens ensured he was the match-winner when he completed his hat-trick six minutes from full-time to move the hosts level on points with fourth-placed Feyenoord, who travel to NEC Nijmegen tomorrow. Vitesse Arnhem climbed out of the relegation zone by coming from behind to record a vital 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Willem II. Said Boutahar had put Willem II in front after 28 minutes, but Serginho Greene levelled four minutes before the break and substitute Santi Kolk won it with 12 minutes left. Vitesse leapfrogged Willem II and ADO Den Haag, 3-0 losers to NAC Breda last night, in the table and also moved above Sparta. A first-half blitz saw Roda JC destroy 10-man rivals Heerenveen 4-2 in their mid-table encounter. Roda went a goal up inside six minutes and the visitors had a man sent off before the first 10 minutes were out, before the home side went into the break 4-0 up. Mads Junker (two), Marcel de Jong and Boldiszar Bodor were the men on target. Heerenveen's nightmare start was compounded when Oussama Assaidi was harshly red-carded for a foul on Ruud Vormer. The visitors pulled two goals back late on through Michel Breuer (penalty) and Mika Vayrynen, but it was too little too late.
