Eredivisie Wrap: Ajax held at Zwolle, RKC hammer Utrecht

Ajax moved five points clear at the top of the Eredivisie on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at in-form PEC Zwolle.

Frank de Boer’s side were presented with an opportunity to stretch their advantage at the summit to seven points after second-placed FC Twente were beaten 3-2 at PSV Eindhoven on Saturday.

Davy Klaassen put the Amsterdam club on course for victory when he headed in his eighth goal of the season after seven minutes.

Yet Ajax, who dropped points on the road at Utrecht last weekend, were pegged back when Guyon Fernandez struck nine minutes before the break, having initially been denied by goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.

It could have been worse for the leaders as Fred Benson and Jesper Drost both hit the woodwork for Zwolle, who were seeking a fourth league win a row.

Ajax are now unbeaten in 10 Eredivisie matches and this was only the second draw in that ominous run, which stretches back to November 2.

The game of the day came at the Mandemakers Stadion, where RKC Waalwijk beat Utrecht 5-2.

Romeo Castelen opened the scoring for the home side eight minutes in, but Jens Toornstra restored parity almost immediately.

A spectacular finale to the game featured five goals and a missed penalty.

Daniel de Ridder restored RKC’s lead in the 79th minute and Kenny Anderson soon made it 3-1, only for Steve De Ridder to pull a goal back seven minutes from time.

Toornstra then missed an 87th-minute penalty before Jean-David Beauguel and Aurelien Joachim added further goals for the hosts, ensuring Erwin Koeman’s side leapfrogged their opponents into 13th.

Heerenveen moved above PSV into fifth with a 3-1 win at Groningen, secured courtesy of first-half goals from Rajiv van La Parra, Hakim Ziyech and Alfred Finnbogason.

In the other game to be played on Sunday, a late Mike te Wierik strike ensured Heracles salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Cambuur, who opened the scoring in the first half through Elvis Manu.