PSV established a three-point lead by beating NEC Nijmegen on Friday, meaning Twente needed to beat Groningen to move back level with them. But they rarely looked like achieving that in a game of few chances at the Euroborg. Gregory van der Wiel hit his fourth goal of the season as Ajax kept alive their hopes of a top-two finish in the Eredivisie with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar. The right-back, who turns 22 next month and could be heading to South Africa with Holland in the summer, fired the winner against AZ just after the hour mark. With FC Twente and PSV the outstanding teams so far in the Dutch season, third-placed Ajax have plenty of catching up to do. This win takes them back to where they began the weekend, nine points off the top. Feyenoord were held to a 1-1 draw as VVV Venlo once again proved tough to beat at home. Ferry de Regt snatched an 85th-minute equaliser for VVV, who have still only lost once at De Koel all season. Feyenoord had led courtesy of a 65th minute own goal from Patrick Paauwe. The draw sees Feyenoord slip four points behind third-placed Ajax and, more importantly, 11 points adrift of the Champions League places. Relegation rivals Sparta Rotterdam and ADO Den Haag played to a goalless draw.
