Ajax moved three points clear at the top of the Eredivisie table with a 4-1 win over NEC Nijmegen at the Amsterdam Arena.
Viktor Fischer scored in each half to pave the way for a win that increased the gap on PSV Eindhoven after they could only draw 2-2 at relegation-threatened Roda JC.
Fischer opened the scoring on 21 minutes before a Rens Van Eijden own goal gave Ajax full control. Fischer's second on 77 minutes was quickly nullified by a Nick Van der Velden goal but substitute Ryan Babel scored nine minutes from the end to ensure a wide-margin win.
Ajax's success was made even more important when PSV Eindhoven conceded an 87th-minute Sanharib Malki equaliser at Roda JC.
Roda led through Frank Demouge on 14 minutes but PSV fired ahead before half-time thanks to an Ola Toivonen double. But Roda, who remain inside the relegation play-off places, snatched a point through Malki.
PSV's slip allowed Vitesse Arnhem to draw level in second place as they extended their winning run to six games with a 2-1 win over PEC Zwolle.
Wilfried Bony and Mike Havenaar fired them 2-0 by the break with Zwolle's sole reply coming via Arsenio Valpoort with 12 minutes left.
RKC Waalwijk thumped ADO Den Haag 4-0 to edge away from the relegation places.
Mart Lieder got the ball rolling on 10 minutes before a Vito Wormgoor own goal and Robert Braber's goal just before half-time all but settled the match. Henrico Drost completed the rout on 88 minutes.
AZ Alkmaar grabbed a much-needed win 2-1 at Heracles Almelo despite playing with 10 men for almost an hour.
Markus Henriksen's 22nd-minute opener was followed by a Mike te Wierik own goal two minutes later to give AZ a 2-0 lead.
Thomas Lam saw red on the hour but Heracles were only able to pull a single goal back when Te Wierik made up for his earlier blunder with a 43rd-minute goal.
Sammy Moore could return to the Dons squad after he missed Friday's 1-0 defeat at Rotherham through illness but the hosts are hopeful he will be fit.
However, fellow midfielder Peter Sweeney will miss out again as he recovers from a broken metatarsal.
Full-back Jim Fenlon remains sidelined by a back problem but boss Neal Ardley has no new injury worries following Friday's trip.
Wingers Kevin Sainte-Luce and Jesse Darko could be in the starting line-up if Ardley freshens things up, having both come on as substitutes against the Millers.
Defender Curtis Osano has shaken off his recent calf injury and midfielder Huw Johnson is fit after a groin problem.
The visitors will be without Kyle De Silva and Barry Fuller through suspension.
On-loan Crystal Palace striker De Silva was sent off two minutes from the end of Friday's goalless draw against Dagenham, while defender Fuller was shown a red card after the final whistle.
Winger Keanu Marsh-Brown could be added to the squad having joined as a free agent last week after leaving Yeovil.
Veteran goalkeeper Michel Kuipers, who also signed on Thursday, should be on the bench with Sam Cowler and Liam O'Brien out injured.
Steve Kabba remains sidelined by a knee problem and fellow striker Ricky Holmes is out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury.
