Newz Forum: SOCCER: Dutch Eredivisie weekend results 13/03/06

Ruud Berger's strike three minutes from time earned RKC Waalwijk a draw at Feyenoord on Sunday and prevented their hosts from gaining ground on Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven. PSV were held to a goalless draw by Ajax on Saturday but their closest rivals were unable to take advantage and find themselves still seven points behind in the Eredivisie. Patrick van Diemen's own goal had gifted Feyenoord a 34th-minute lead but second-half substitute Berger spoiled the day for the home fans.

Third-placed AZ Alkmaar are just two points behind Feyenoord after a 3-1 triumph at relegation-threatened Willem II. Iwan Redan cancelled out Haris Medunjanin's early opener for AZ, but second-half goals from Gretar Rafn Steinsson and Stein Huysegems gave AZ the points. Willem II are second-bottom - seven points from safety.

Vitesse Arnhem showed no mercy against last-placed RBC Roosendaal, winning 5-1, and in a battle between sides attempting to make the Champions League play-offs, FC Utrecht were 2-0 winners over Heerenveen. Robin Nelisse and the man who came on for him three minutes from time, Marc-Antoine Fortune, both scored for the victors. Utrecht are in the fifth and final Champions League play-off position on 46 points, three points clear of Heerenveen. In the game of the day on Saturday both PSV and Ajax their chances to win but neither could take advantage in the face of some stubborn defending and deft goalkeeping. PSV's Michael Ball hit the post in the first half but after the break it was the Amsterdammers who looked the team most likely to break the deadlock and after 72 minutes Jeffrey Sarpong was guilty of a glaring miss as he powered the ball wide of an an empty net. Arouna Kone finally found the back of the net late on, but the visitors were denied victory by the offside flag.

ADO Den Haag gave their survival hopes a significant boost with a 2-1 victory over European play-off hopefuls FC Groningen. Having fallen behind to an early Erik Nevland strike, the hosts came back fighting with goals in either half from Michael Mols and Ferrie Bodde turning the result in their favour.

Sparta Rotterdam also boosted their chances of survival. They bounced back from last week's mauling by Ajax to grab a 1-1 draw at Roda JC. Facing a battle against relegation, Sparta were humiliated 6-0 by the Amsterdam giants and on Saturday, after having Danny Schenkel sent off, they trailed to a 57th-minute strike by Simon Cziommer. Wouter Gudde equalised for Sparta seven minutes later, however, and the teams finished with a draw in snowy Kerkrade.

Heracles Almelo slipped into the bottom three after crashing to a fifth successive defeat.

NEC Nijmegen ended a three-match losing streak of their own with a 2-0 win at De Goffert thanks to goals from Romano Denneboom and David Jones.

Kennedy Bakircioglu scored the only goal of Friday's game as FC Twente strengthened their claims for a place in the UEFA Cup play-offs with victory over NAC Breda. Bakircioglu finished from close range in the 67th minute to settle a close game in which NAC had several chances to ease their relegation worries.

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