Top teams drop points in Dutch league

The battle for the first place in the Dutch Eredivisie is tight with all top teams dropping points in the eleventh match round and FC Twente maintaining the lead despite a loss.

FC Twente lost 3-2 to ADO Den Haag Saturday, with ADO striker Mike van Duinen scored the winner after a solo effort for two minutes. Later Saturday Ajax could take over the lead from Twente, but Ajax drew 0-0 at home against bottom side RKC Waalwijk, Xinhua reported.

PSV was the next team Sunday with a possibility to become the new leader, but the Eindhoven based side lost 2-1 to Roda JC Kerkrade. After PSV forward Memphis Depay was sent off with his second yellow card, Krisztian Nemeth produced the winning goal for Roda five minutes from time. PSV goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton suffered a minor concussion in the final minute after a collision with the post.

After PSV's mission failed Feyenoord was next Sunday, but the Rotterdam side also suffered a defeat. Feyenoord lost 2-1 at home to Heracles Almelo, due to Mikhail Rosheuvel's winning effort. Feyenoord striker Graziano Pelle got so frustrated he received a red card for giving a head-butt.

In addition, PEC Zwolle also wasted the opportunity of becoming number one by losing 2-0 at home to AZ Alkmaar.

Finally, the last match of the 11th match round was Vitesse at home against FC Groningen. Both teams could take the lead with a win. Vitesse seemed on their way to the first place after Mike Havenaar headed in the opening goal and Davy Propper made it 2-0. However, Richairo Zivkovic and Tjaronn Chery leveled the score in Arnhem at 2-2.

With all the top clubs losing or drawing the differences in the Dutch top flight table became smaller and smaller. FC Twente lead on goal difference, with as many points (19) as Ajax and AZ. PSV, PEC Zwolle, Vitesse and FC Groningen are all only one point behind, while number eight Feyenoord trails by just two points.