Huntelaar hits four as Ajax run riot

Klaas Jan Huntelaar delivered the perfect riposte after being left out of the Netherlands squad by scoring four times in AFC Ajax's 8-1 rout of De Graafschap on Sunday.

Ajax dazzle
Huntelaar opened the scoring nine minutes before the break then added three more late on, including an 88th-minute penalty, as Henk ten Cate's side put their disappointing mid-week UEFA Champions League defeat by SK Slavia Praha behind them with an emphatic win. There were also two goals for Hedwiges Maduro and one each for Kennedy Bakircioglu and new signing Luis Suárez as Ajax kicked off their campaign in brilliant fashion.

PSV triumph
Last season ended in thrilling style with PSV Eindhoven clinching the title on the final day on goal difference alone and it looks like things could be tight again this year. PSV, Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord are all expected to be in contention and all four got off to winning starts. AZ beat VVV Venlo 4-0 on Saturday, before PSV opened their defence with a 2-0 win at Heracles Almelo today, Ibrahim Afellay and Mike Zonneveld getting the goals late on for Ronald Koeman's side after an unconvincing performance from the champions.

Makaay strikes
Feyenoord, meanwhile, won 3-0 away to FC Utrecht. Luigi Bruins put the visiting side ahead with a long-range strike on 25 minutes that home goalkeeper Franck Grandel will feel he ought to have held. New signing Roy Makaay set up Nicky Hofs on 62 minutes to make sure of the points before adding the third himself with four minutes remaining.