Ajax move into title contention

Ajax sparked fresh life into the Eredivisie title race today by thrashing leaders PSV Eindhoven 5-1 at the Philips Stadion.

The Amsterdammers closed the gap on PSV to five points with their win, with third-placed AZ Alkmaar – who were held to a goalless draw at Heracles – a further two points adrift with five games to go.

Ajax were magnificent in Eindhoven and took the lead after 17 minutes through Klaas-Jan Huntelaar while Wesley Sneijder doubled the advantage for Henk ten Cate’s men a minute before the interval.

Patrick Kluivert reduced the deficit for the hosts midway through the second half, but another strike from Huntelaar and further efforts from Gabri and Kenneth Perez sealed an emphatic win for the visitors.

FC Twente could have pulled level on points with AZ – Newcastle’s UEFA Cup conquerors on Thursday – but were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Groningen.

Feyenoord and Willem II could not muster a goal between them while FC Utrecht overcame Vitesse Arnhem 2-0.