Netherlands round-up: Bruggink rescues PSV

Substitute Arnold Bruggink scored twice to rescue a 2-2 draw for Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, who had trailed ten-man AZ Alkmaar by two goals with little over 20 minutes remaining.

Lead cut
Bruggink came off the bench to convert free-kicks in the 69th and 80th minutes to ensure PSV grabbed a share of the spoils - although AFC Ajax's 6-1 win against RKC Waalwijk cut their lead at the top to six points with four games to play.

Red mist
PSV's 20-year-old third-choice goalkeeper Yves Lenaerts was beaten twice in the first half, Tim de Cler putting Alkmaar ahead on 25 minutes and Ali Elkhattabi doubling the lead just before the break. But once Michael Lamey was sent off on the hour, PSV began to turn the screw and Bruggink found his range from first 25 and then 17 metres to take his side a step closer to the title.

Van der Vaart magic
Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart gave Ajax a two-goal advantage within 20 minutes of their game in Amsterdam - and the latter completed his hat-trick with further strikes either side of half-time. Goals from Petri Pasanen and Hatem Trabelsi made it six before Jochen Janssen scored a consolation at the death.

Buffel seals it
Ten-man Feyenoord stayed third as they beat FC Utrecht 2-1 thanks to Thomas Buffel's 71st-minute winner in a dress rehearsal for next month's Dutch Cup final. The story of the first half was the dismissal of Feyenoord youngster Robin van Persie, who gave his side a third-minute lead before receiving his marching orders 20 minutes later, by which time Igor Gluscevic had equalised for Utrecht.

NEC go fifth
Elsewhere, NEC Nijmegen moved fifth with a 0-0 draw against FC Groningen, while Roda JC recorded their fourth consecutive defeat - a 3-1 loss - at FC Zwolle. RBC Roosendaal picked up their tenth win of the season against FC Twente thanks to Edwin de Graaf's solitary 70th-minute goal.

Smit heroics
In the day's other games, SBV Vitesse beat NAC Breda 3-1, SC Excelsior lost 4-3 to De Graafschap, who completed their recovery from three goals down with Arvid Smit's winner in added time.