Eredivisie wrap: Junker hits hat-trick, AZ bounce back

Mads Junker netted a hat-trick as Roda JC destroyed Groningen 4-1 at the Euroborg in the Eredivisie on Saturday.

Junker’s treble – his first since April 2010 – helped Roda move into seventh place on the table as Groningen’s title hopes took a blow, with Peter Huistra’s side now six points from league-leaders PSV Eindhoven.

The 29-year-old Danish striker nabbed his first on the quarter-hour mark to give his side a slender advantage at the break, before his second and third goals in the 62nd and 71st minutes put the game to bed.

Nicklas Pedersen pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 88th minute, but Hungarian substitute Boldizsar Bodor reinstated Roda’s three-goal lead two minutes later.

Pedersen’s goal could have had more effect on the game had former Wigan central defender Andreas Granqvist not missed from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute.

Excelsior thrashed Willem II 4-0 to better their prospects of avoiding relegation from the Dutch top flight.

New signing Geert Roorda put the hosts ahead in the 19th minute at the Stadion Woudestein, before the midfielder made it a brace in the 51st minute when he converted from the penalty spot.

Nayib Lagouireh and Guyon Fernandez scored in the 83rd and 85th minutes respectively to top off the runaway victory.

AZ Alkmaar snapped a run of two league losses with a 2-0 away win over Heerenveen at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Sweden midfielder Pontus Wernbloom opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before Hector Morena doubled their lead in the 68th minute, as Alkmaar took the three points to move into sixth on the table.