AMSTERDAM, February 15 (Eredivisie) - Ajax fired out a warning to their Eredivisie rivals with a resounding victory over Sparta Rotterdam on Friday evening.

Defeat to Roda JC last weekend had seen the Amsterdam club fall further off the pace set by leaders PSV Eindhoven and into a tight battle for a place in the top five.

But they responded in stunning fashion against Sparta with goals from Johnny Heitinga (two), Kenneth Perez (two), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rasmus Lindgren moving them up to second in the table, six points behind PSV.

Sparta managed to get on the board through Darryl Roberts and Marvin Emnes but it was not enough to stave off a third successive defeat for the Rotterdammers.

Ajax had a point to prove following last weekend's loss and soon found themselves in front at the Amsterdam ArenA with Heitinga sweeping home right-footed from the edge of the box after 14 minutes.

A second goal arrived on the half-hour mark with Huntelaar heading in Perez's corner, and two minutes later it was 3-0 with Lindgren firing home from six yards after Albert Luque's initial strike has been deflected into the path of the Swede.

Sparta scored from their first real chance after 34 minutes thanks to Roberts' angled shot, but the goal only spurred Ajax on and Heitinga grabbed his second five minutes later with a fierce drive.

Moments later Perez added his name to the scoresheet, racing through the visiting defence and lashing the ball home from 10 yards to give Ajax a 5-1 lead at the interval.

The Danish international thought he had another in the 71st minute but his effort from just outside the box was ruled offside.

Perez's stunning strike 10 minutes later did stand though as he volleyed home Bruno Silva's neat flick.

Sparta mustered another response eight minutes from time with Emnes steering the ball into the top left corner, but it was largely a night to forget for the travelling fans.

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