Ajax and Alkmaar drop points with draws

Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar were held to draws by Excelsior Rotterdam and Groningen respectively in the Dutch league on Sunday.

Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar were held to draws by Excelsior Rotterdam and Groningen respectively in the Dutch league on Sunday.

Edgar Davids opened the scoring for Ajax after 18 minutes with a fierce shot, but Andwele Slory and Eldridge Rojer turned the tide in Excelsior's favour with goals in the 25th and 30th minutes.

Six minutes before the break Klaas-Jan Huntelaar equalised when he headed home a corner kick from Tom de Mul, but Ajax were denied a winner by the visitors, who ended a streak of 10 defeats.

With nine matches remaining, PSV Eindhoven, who won 2-0 at Heracles Almelo on Saturday, are top with 60 points, five points ahead of second-placed Ajax. AZ Alkmaar are third with 54 points.

Danny Koevermans profited from sloppy defending by Groningen to hand Alkmaar the lead after 24 minutes, but 11 minutes into the second half Erik Nevland volleyed home the equaliser.

Twente Enschede won 2-1 at Heerenveen to remain fourth on 53 points. Blaise N'Kufo and Kennedy Bakircioglu gave Twente a comfortable lead with first-half goals, while Petter Hansson pulled one back midway through the second half.

Jonathan de Guzman and Angelos Charisteas scored the goals in Feyenoord's 2-0 win over Utrecht. Feyenoord remain fifth with 45 points.