Eredivisie wrap: AZ maintain top spot, Ajax suffer first defeat

AZ Alkmaar have kept top spot in the Eredivisie with a win over VVV Venlo, while Ajax suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday.

Gertjan Verbeek’s side were never really troubled in Venlo and cruised to a routine 3-1 win.

Swedish midfielder Rasmus Elm continued his fine form by firing home a free-kick just after the half-hour mark, before he set up Adam Maher for their second.

A superb individual action effort from Simon Poulsen put the match to bed as the full-back cut inside from the left before finding the top corner with a curling shot in the 73rd minute.

Robert Cullen pegged one back for VVV in stoppage time when he tapped home after AZ goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado had kept out Ahmed Musa’s penalty.

Meanwhile, Groningen condemned Ajax to their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 win.

Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel was sent off just after the hour mark when he picked up a second yellow card for handling in his own penalty area and Leandro Bacuna stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

Elsewhere, Feyenoord suffered a shock 3-0 loss against ADO Den Haag.

John Verhoek opened the scoring on 15 minutes, before he set up older brother Wesley to double their advantage before the break.

Tjaronn Chery netted in the second half when Lex Immers found him unmarked at the back post to seal the win for ADO.

PSV needed a late show to overcome NEC Nijmegen 2-0 thanks to goals from Zakaria Labyad and Tim Matavz.

The match looked to be headed for a scoreless draw, Labyad and Matavz scored in the last five minutes to hand PSV the three points.

Twente have slipped to third after they needed a late goal to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Excelsior.

Ola John had put the hosts ahead in the first half, before Darren Maatsen netted twice in as many minutes to put Excelsior 2-1 up with less than five minutes to play.

But the hosts pushed forward and salvaged a draw thanks to Luuk de Jong’s header.