Netherlands round-up: Heerenveen joy at Alkmaar

SC Heerenveen pushed themselves back into title contention on Saturday with a 2-0 win at AZ Alkmaar.

Heerenveen weather the storm
Despite finishing the game with ten men after Gerard de Nooijer was dismissed for deliberate handball on 69 minutes, earlier goals from Swedish striker Marcus Allbäck and Stefan Selakovic were enough to see Heerenveen move within three points of Feyenoord and AFC Ajax, the joint league leaders.

Loose ball
Allbäck profited from Alkmaar goalkeeper Arnold Nijkamp's save from Selakovic to drill the loose ball home in the first half but Selakovic was on target a minute into the second half anyway.

Sparta's second-half collapse
Sparta Rotterdam's relegation problems deepened as they let the lead slip against De Grafschaap. Ousmane Sanou's first goal of the season looked to have set Frank Rijkaard's team on their way at the halfway point, but two goals from Peter van Vossen and another from Arvid Smit gave the visitors a 3-1 win at the Eneco stadium.

Sittard earn a draw
That was good news for bottom club SC Fortuna Sittard as they earned a valuable point away at SBV Vitesse. Vitesse goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric failed to hold Roy Hamming's shot after half an hour and Marco Heering stole in to give the visitors the lead, but the title-chasing hosts were back on terms when Didier Martel rifled home two minutes from the break.