Round five of the Eredivisie season was dominated by draws with six of the nine matches ending in stalemate, Leo Walker rounds up all the action.
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Friday night saw the first of the six draws when NEC Nijmegen travelled to NAC Breda with both sides still yet to record a victory in the new season and NEC still without a win since February. The poor form from both sides ensures they remain in the bottom two of the table. The hosts led after just four minutes through Rydell Poepon before his opener was cancelled out by Victor Palsson of NEC as NAC Breda were unable to put the game to bed.
Saturday produced two draws including both the opening and the final fixture of the day’s action. It was looking like sc Heerenveen, despite lacking the services of Alfred Finnbogason, would record a vital victory away at FC Twente against the run of play after Joey van den Berg’s goal for the visitors on 64 minutes put them ahead. However the hosts levelled in the 89th minute to ensure the spoils were shared. PSV Eindhoven, notable for their high goal scoring record which saw them hit the back of the net over 100 times last season, were held to a 0-0 draw at home to SC Cambuur. PSV had returned from their heartbreak in Milan and there week ended on an even sour note when failing to score for the first time in an Eredivisie game since September 2012.
The remaining two games on Saturday saw the performance of the week by Go Ahead Eagles who continue to impress after recording an emphatic 4-1 victory away at RKC Waalwijk. The visitors were 4-0 up thanks to a hat-trick by on-loan striker Erik Falkenburg and a penalty dispatched by Marnix Kolder. The shocked RKC Waalwijk grabbed a late consolation goal however the Erwin Koeman’s side who were difficult to beat at home last season, have suffered their second home defeat already this season. Heracles Almelo grabbed a narrow 1-0 victory over ADO Den Haag in what was Lenin Duarte’s last game for the club after his move to Ajax was completed hours after the game. The only goal of the game was scored by an unlikely source, young Australian defender; Jason Davidson pounced on the ball in the 6 yard box to score his first goal for Heracles. The day got worst for the visitors when defender, Dion Malone received his second yellow to reduce ADO Den Haag to ten men.
Sunday saw the new look Ajax travel to the Euroborg Stadion, home of FC Groningen. After the departures of Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld, Frank de Boer introduced Thulani Serero and Stefano Denswil as replacements. The Champions led after 18 minutes through Lasse Schone’s superb long range effort, before Genero Zeefuik deservedly equalised for the hosts after 76 minutes with the game finishing 1-1. Ajax had the opportunity to close the gap between themselves and PSV; however it was an opportunity that was wasted. The league leaders, PEC Zwolle, lost their 100% record in round five, however remain undefeated and positioned at the summit of the Eredivisie table. FC Utrecht visited the league leaders, Ijsseldelta Stadion, on the back of recording their first victory of the season. After a goalless first half the visitors went ahead minutes into the second half through new on-loan recruit, Willem Janssen who scored his first goal for the club. The hosts created 14 efforts on goal and were justly awarded for their persistence when equalising through substitute Stefan Nijland with just 15 minutes to go, and with no winner, the score line remained 1-1.
Due to the fire at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday and the remaining 30 minutes of the Europa League tie being played on Friday morning, AZ Alkmaar’s fixture at home to Vitesse Arnhem was played two hours later than originally scheduled to end the weekend’s action alongside Feyenoord’s tie at home to Roda JC. AZ Alkmaar against Vitesse Arnhem finished 1-1 to ensure the score line appeared for the fifth time this weekend from the six draws. AZ Alkmaar took the lead just before half time through Mattias Johansson however they were unable to hold on as the visitors equalised deservedly through Jonathan Reis’s last minute goal. After an initial slow start to the season which saw Feyenoord suffer three losses in a row, they have since recorded back to back Eredivisie victories after a 4-0 thrashing of Roda JC at De Kuip. After half an hour, Ruud Vormer but the hosts 1-0 up from the spot before Graziano Pellé scored his 6th goal of the season just before half time to send Feyenoord 2-0 up at the break. The tie was wrapped up by Miquel Nelom scoring his first professional goal on the 68th minute to put the game beyond the visitors. Roda JC were reduced to ten men with 8 minutes to go before substitute John Goossens made it 4-0 to Ronald Koeman’s side.
Round five was dominated by draws and specifically the 1-1 score line, whilst PEC Zwolle remain at the top of the table after PSV failed to close the gap following their failure to score for the first time in an Eredivisie game since September 2012. Go Ahead Eagles continue to impress after their 4-1 victory away at RKC Waalwijk, whilst Feyenoord appear to be over their disappointing start by recording back to back Eredivisie victories.
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