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Add as a favourite source on Google Add DutchNews as a favourite source on GoogleAZ Alkmaar and Groningen share the lead in the Eredivisie after two rounds after two of the big three unexpectedly dropped points at the weekend.

AZ, who beat champions PSV 4-0 to win the Johan Cruyff Shield two weeks ago, continued their good form with a 4-1 win at Utrecht.

The first three goals came in a five-minute spell around half-time, with Peer Koopmeiners giving AZ the lead with a header from a corner just before the interval.

Weslley Patati charged down the right-hand touchline and scored from a narrow angle for the second before Mexx Meerdinck settled the contest in the 49th minute, with Ayoub Oufkir adding a late fourth.

Groningen won by the same scoreline at newly promoted ADO, taking the direct approach to go 3-0 up before half-time.

All three goals were set up by long balls from goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, with Thom van Bergen opening the scoring with some neat footwork after 15 minutes.

Brynjólfur Willumsson and David van der Werff added to the scoreline in the first half before 21-year-old substitute Nils Eggens headed in a fourth nine minutes from the end.

Heerenveen hit back

Ajax and Feyenoord both surrendered two-goal leads at home to miss the chance to take an early lead in the title race.

Ajax looked to be cruising against Heerenveen when a superb strike in the 33rd minute by Abdellah Ouzane put them two up, following an own goal by Bernd Klaverboer.

But Jacob Trenskow pulled one back just before half-time and despite Ajax laying siege to the visitors’ goal, it was Heerenveen who had the last word when substitute Maxence Rivera found the net with a fierce shot in the 82nd minute.

Feyenoord suffered similar jitters after dominating the first half against Go Ahead Eagles, with goals from Gjivai Zechiël and last season’s top scorer Ayase Ueda putting them firmly in control.

But the Deventer club hit back through Søren Tengstedt and a header by Stefan Ingi Sigurdarson, the latter within minutes of coming on as a substitute. Both teams hit the crossbar in a frantic last nine minutes, but ultimately had to share the points.

PSV first win

PSV, who dropped points in their opening match against Fortuna Sittard, overcame Excelsior with an early goal by Ruben van Bommel and a tap-in by Ricardo Pepi from his USA international team-mate Sergino Dest’s pass.

Excelsior were briefly level early in the second half when Casper Widell headed in a teasing cross, but Peter Bosz’s side were much improved as new signing Kodai Sano came on after an hour.

NEC Nijmegen warmed up for their Champions League play-off contest in midweek with a 4-1 win against newcomers Willem II, with veterans Tjaronn Chery and Bryan Linssen among the scorers as well as summer signing Kaj Sierhuis.

All three promoted teams are still looking for their first point after Cambuur Leeuwarden lost 3-1 at Fortuna Sittard despite a battling second-half display.

Sparta denied Telstar a share of the early championship lead by winning 3-1 in IJmuiden, while Twente won the Overijssel derby by the same score with the help of an own goal by PEC Zwolle striker Dylan Mbayo.

Results

Friday

Fortuna Sittard 3-1 Cambuur Leeuwarden

Saturday

Excelsior 1-2 PSV Eindhoven

Telstar 1-3 Sparta Rotterdam

Utrecht 1-4 AZ Alkmaar

Willem II 1-4 NEC Nijmegen

Sunday

ADO Den Haag 1-4 Groningen

Ajax 2-2 Heerenveen

Feyenoord 2-2 Go Ahead Eagles

Twente Enschede 3-1 PEC Zwolle

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