Ajax and PSV stay in touch with Twente

Steve McClaren's Twente are top with 74 points and four matches remaining after beating Sparta Rotterdam 3-0 on Saturday, with Bryan Ruiz scoring a hat-trick within four minutes.

NEWS:Ruiz treble keeps Twente on course

Ajax, who defeated Groningen 3-0, are four points behind on 70, one ahead of PSV who enjoyed their first win in four matches, beating Venlo 4-2.

Belgian international Jan Vertonghen (pictured) headed home a free-kick from Demy de Zeeuw seven minutes before the break to open the scoring for Ajax.

Midway through the second half Siem de Jong doubled the lead with a fine volley before Vertonghen notched up his second.

Otman Bakkal, with a close-range header, and Balazs Dzsudzsak scored first-half goals to put PSV on track, while Danny Koevermans scored early in the second half.

Ruben Schaken replied for VVV but Bakkal restored the three-goal lead a minute later, while Ruud Boymans added a second for the home side 12 minutes before time.

Fourth-placed Feyenoord, on 52 points and with a game in hand, were held to a goalless draw by NEC Nijmegen and two early goals for Utrecht proved sufficient to beat bottom side RKC Waalwijk 2-0.

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