AZ Alkmaar remain three points clear at the top of the Eredivisie after a 2-0 victory at FC Volendam.

Ferreira Ari put the visitors in front after 11 minutes and David Mendes Da Silva made sure of the points with a second in the 79th minute.

Ten-man Ajax kept up the pressure with an away win of their own, beating NEC 4-2 in a game which sprang to life after a goalless first half.

Miralem Sulejmani opened the scoring after 48 minutes but Ramon Zomer levelled just two minutes later.

Sulejmani grabbed his second after 54 minutes but Youssef El Akchaoui made it 2-2 on 67 minutes before Ajax's Dario Cvitanich was sent off for a second bookable offence.

NEC failed to take advantage however, Artola Dani Fernandez scoring an own goal and Garcia Gabri scoring the sixth goal of the half in the last minute.

Elsewhere, PSV drew 1-1 at Roda JC with Willem Janssen cancelling out Timmy Simons' 60th-minute penalty just a minute later.

And Sparta and FC Groningen also had to settle for a point apiece, Koen Van de Laak putting Groningen in front after 48 minutes before Joey Godee replied for the home side on the hour mark.

Yesterday's action saw FC Twente keep up the pressure on the top two with a 2-1 victory over struggling Vitesse Arnhem.

Ben Sahar, on loan from Chelsea, showed he could be the man to save De Graafschap from the drop by marking his debut with the winner against Willem II.

Heracles Almelo striker Bas Dost had an injury-time winner controversially disallowed as his side were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at ADO Den Haag.

Tom Caluwe's stoppage-time strike snatched a 1-1 draw for FC Utrecht at NAC Breda, while Heerenveen beat Feyenoord 3-1 on Friday.