(These blog posts are done on a strictly weekly basis after the weekend games so it is unfortunate but true that any extra match rounds or games during the week generally go unreported. But we can just tell you that Twente, PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord all won their games in match round 21.)
A famous red and white flag...
Match round 22, this weekend past, was a momentous time in the current Eredivisie championship: at last Steve McLaren’s FC Twente lost a match. And not just any match. No, this was the big show-down in the ArenA in Amsterdam, where goals from de Zeeuw, Pantelic and veteran striker Rommedahl sent the Ajax crowd into delirium and Twente’s unbeaten record into oblivion.
With results elsewhere going in their favour, Ajax have cemented the third spot and now have the tail-lights of Twente in their full view — a ‘mere’ six points distant.
Feyenoord unconsciously aided and abetted the Ajax team’s improvement by losing their own home battle against the recently inconsistent AZ Alkmaar, who found their feet in time to take the points with a fine 1-2 away win in Rotterdam. In a cagey encounter, it was always going to take one individual action to decide the piece, and this was supplied by Moreno three minutes from time. As a result, Feyenoord remain fourth but are now a full seven points behind the ArenA men. AZ move up to seventh equal.
Lest we be diverted by these top-flight match-ups, the top team – now on their own at the top – is PSV Eindhoven, who routinely demolished hapless ADO from the Hague in the Philips stadium.
Meanwhile, amongst the lesser gods, the struggle went on. Especially in Almelo where home team Heracles looked down and out at 1-3 for visiting Groningen. All that was needed was for the referee to red-card a couple of Groninginners for a swift turnabout to take place. And so it happened. In an scintillating (well, for those from Almelo anyway) dénouement, Heracles scored three to take as many points and begin to look like they belong in the top half of the table.
Just below Heracles in the standings it is now NAC Breda in sixth. NAC are still undefeated in 2010 and carried on as usual with a good 1-2 away victory against Willem II in Tilburg, a result which will do their confidence no harm at all. Amoah gave NAC all the points with the winner early in the second half.
FC Utrecht fell to eighth position after their visit to Heereveen. The Fresians have been poor of late so surprised themeselves by winning 2-0. VVV similarly impressed with a 2-0 home win over Vitesse Arnhem, the Venlo outfit now in a giddy ninth spot.
Elsewhere, Roda beat Sparta Rotterdam in Kerkrade by 2-1, ensuring their move up to 12th spot and NEC Nijmegen go 14th after an expected away 0-1 win over bottom club RKC Waalwijk.
Next week: PSV travel to Heracles, Twente visit Vitesse, Heereveen host Ajax, and Utrecht are at home to Feyenoord. Then AZ host Roda, VVV go to Sparta and of course the tv announcer’s favourite match comes round again: NEC-NAC. Also known as the “paddywack” encounter…
Tags: Eredivisie, football
