Eredivisie wrap: Ajax move top after Heracles rout

Ajax Amsterdam moved to the top of the Eredivisie thanks to a 6-0 rout of Heracles on Sunday, while AZ could only draw at Vitesse.

Ajax started the day second in the standings but AZ’s 2-2 draw at Vitesse Arnhem saw them relinquish top place.

Dutch giants Ajax led by a solitary Theo Janssen goal at half-time but second-half strikes to Lorenzo Ebecillio, Christian Eriksen, Vurnon Anita, Siem de Jong, and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson sealed an emphatic victory.

Ajax move to 58 points thanks to their 17th win of the season and lead AZ by a point after the former league leaders had to come from behind to salvage a draw in Arnhem.

AZ took the lead after 32 minutes when United States striker Jozy Altidor scored his 11th goal of the season.

But goals to Vitesse either side of half-time meant the visitors were facing their first defeat in six league games before Danish defender Simon Poulsen scored an equaliser in the 59th minute.

The result means AZ are now just two points ahead of Twente, with PSV Eindhoven a further point behind.

In other Eredivisie results on Sunday, Europa League hopefuls NEC Nijmegen and RKC Waalwijk both won.

Nijmegen had a comfortable 2-0 victory over bottom-placed De Graafschap thanks to goals from Lasse Schone and Genero Zeefuik.

Waalwijk striker Krisztian Nemeth scored the only goal of the game in his side’s 1-0 victory over ADO Den Haag.