Ajax lost further ground on Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven after Anouar Hadouir's late strike gave Roda JC a 2-1 win on Sunday.Roland Lamah put Roda in front in the 22nd minute but it was cancelled out shortly before half-time by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's 22nd league goal of the season.

The game looked destined for a stalemate until Hadouir scored with 11 minutes remaining.

The Amsterdammers are now in third place on 44 points, nine points behind PSV and trailing second-placed Heerenveen on goal difference.

NEC Nijmegen pulled off a surprise 5-2 win over AZ Alkmaar, who have failed to win in their last six league outings.

David Mendes Da Silva gave AZ the perfect start when he fired home in the third minute but an NEC onslaught then ensued and the hosts were out of sight by half-time.

Kevin Bobson netted seven minutes after the opener and Brett Holman edged NEC in front with 13 minutes on the clock.

Jhonny van Beukering scored from the penalty spot in the 20th minute and Peter Wisgerhof powered home a diving header four minutes later.

Substitute Jeroen Drost made it five with 68 minutes gone, meaning Mounir El Hamdaoui's goal two minutes from time was nothing more than a consolation.

Excelsior's survival hopes were significantly improved after they recorded a narrow 1-0 away win over fellow strugglers Sparta Rotterdam.

Leendert van Steensel's 58th-minute goal separated the sides and although Excelsior are still rock-bottom, they are now just two points adrift of safety.

In the battle between 16th and 17th place, VVV Venlo's 77th-minute equaliser ensured the clash with relegation rivals Willem II ended all square.

Cristiano came off the bench and scored within a minute to cancel out Peter Reekers' opener on the stroke of half-time.

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