The Dutch Eredivisie returned this weekend after the international break, with leaders PSV Eindhoven kicking off the action against Fortuna Sittard. The hosts were aiming to maintain their 100% winning record this season. The league leaders started the game well, going ahead within the first 20 minutes thanks to a goal from Guss TIl, the hosts doubled their advantage 10 minutes into the second half and scored again with 12 minutes to go. Fortuna Sittard managed to get a consolation goal deep into injury time as Kaj Sierhuis converted from the penalty spot. The game ended 3-1 to the hosts and they will hope to maintain their form going into their mid-week Champions League game away to Lens on Tuesday evening.
After losing to AZ Alkmaar prior to the international break, all eyes were on Ajax and if they could return to winning ways away to bottom of the league FC Utrecht. Maurice Steijn was under immense pressure going into the weekend, with the Amsterdamers having won once in their opening six games. Ultimately, if there is one game to watch this weekend it was this one, with the game really coming to life in the second half as both sides scored three times during the 45 minutes. The hosts went into the break 1-0 up after a 44 minute goal from Ryan Flamingo, they then doubled the lead three minutes into the second half before Ajax scored three in 12 minutes to go 3-2 up with 25 minutes to go. The visitors tried to hold onto their lead but FC Utrecht brought the game level with 20 minutes left to play, then in the dying minutes of the game the hosts scored a 4th to clinch a historic 4-3 victory against AFC Ajax. Get Belgium and Dutch Football News Editor Hugo Hargreaves wrote a more in-depth review of the game which you can read here. With Ajax now 17th in the Eredivisie, it is likely that supporters of the Dutch giants will be looking for answers, and ultimately for action to be taken to change their season around.
Elsewhere in the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar aimed to continue their own unbeaten streak as they played host to SC Heerenveen on Saturday. The hosts were comfortable 3-0 winners with their top scorer, Vangelis Pavlidis, adding a hat-trick to his collection this season, making it 13 games in 9 games for the Greek international. AZ Alkmaar take on Premier League side Aston Villa at home in the Europa Conference League, with all teams in the group having one once, the team from the Netherlands will hope to take a step towards qualification on Thursday evening.
The game between RKC Waalwijk and FC Volendam looked as though it was going to end in a routine 1-0 win for the hosts. However a last 10 minutes of mayhem saw FC Volendam claw back an equaliser through defender Benaissa Benamar, but with RKC Waalwijk to score merely minutes later as Yassin Oukili put the hosts level again. The game ended after seven minutes of injury time with RKC Waalwijk winning 2-1.
Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, Feyenoord, who sat in 4th place in the league going into the weekend, were able to ease to a 4-0 victory at home to Vitesse. Santiago Gimenez was able to continue his goal scoring record, scoring one goal in the victory, leaving him tied with Pavlidis on 13 goals for the season. Feyenoord face Lazio in the Champions League on Wednesday night, they will be hoping improve their record in the competition as they sit in 3rd place in their group with one win and one loss so far this campaign.
Finally, with the return of the Twente Derby this weekend, it was FC Twente who got off to a flying start as they travelled to Heracles Almelo. The visitors went 2-0 up after 33 minutes with goals from Daan Rots and Sem Steijn. However, the hosts were able to improve in the second half and scored two goals of their own through Mario Engels and Sven Sonnenberg, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Max Mumford
