Eredivisie wrap: AZ, PSV fail to break shackles

PSV Eindhoven remain one point behind Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar after both teams were held to 1-1 draws on Sunday.

AZ could not find a repeat of Thursday’s 3-2 Dutch Cup win over Ajax at Amsterdam ArenA when they entertained Frank de Boer’s men once again, this time at the more comfortable surrounds of the AFAS Stadion.

Rasmus Elm fired AZ ahead eight minutes before half-time, but Simon Poulsen’s goal with 15 minutes to play salvaged a point for Ajax, who remain in fourth place.

PSV could only draw 1-1 with Utrecht at Stadion Galgenwaard, with their Swedish striker Ola Toivonen scoring his 11th Eredivisie goal of the season to cancel out Stefano Lilipaly’s 66th-minute opener for Utrecht.

Those results see AZ lead the standings on 39 points, one ahead of PSV with Twente on 36 after their 5-0 rout of RKC Waalkijk on Saturday and Ajax on 34.

Elsewhere on Sunday, VVV Venlo climbed off the bottom thanks to their upset 2-1 win over Feyenoord.

Bruno Martins Indi put Feyenoord ahead in the 12th minute, but two goals in the final five minutes of the first half from Bryan Linssen and Ismo Vorstermans were enough to hand VVV a much-needed win.

A goal from Leroy George gave NEC Nijmegen a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Vitesse Arnhem, and Groningen came from behind to defeat Heracles 2-1 at home.

Glynor Plet put the home side ahead after 16 minutes, but second-half strikes from David Texeira and Virgil van Dijk were enough to give Groningen the three points.