Reigning Dutch champs Feyenoord handed 5th loss of season

THE HAGUE, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Reigning Dutch champions Feyenoord suffered their 5th defeat of the Eredivisie season on Sunday, 1-0 at VVV-Venlo, to stay far behind on league leaders PSV.

Feyenoord had beaten PSV 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Dutch Cup last Wednesday, but could not give that performance a good follow-up on Sunday. Clint Leemans converted a penalty in the 88th minute, after Renato Tapia had brought down former Feyenoord player Romeo Castelen in the penalty area.

Also on Sunday, Ajax beat NAC Breda 3-1 in Amsterdam. After Thierry Ambrose smashed home the opening goal for NAC in the 6th minute, Donny van de Beek equalized with a header on a cross by Justin Kluivert and David Neres put Ajax in front after a solo effort. In injury time, Hakim Ziyech made it 3-1 with a free kick.

On Saturday, PSV beat PEC Zwolle 4-0 in Eindhoven. After the visitors lost goalkeeper Mickey van der Hart with a red card three minutes from halftime, PSV took command. Luuk de Jong scored three times and Joshua Brenet added the fourth goal.

AZ drew 2-2 at home against Roda JC Kerkrade, Excelsior and FC Utrecht drew with the same scoreline, Sparta Rotterdam beat Willem II 1-0, SC Heerenveen defeated FC Twente 1-0, Heracles Almelo and ADO Den Haag drew 1-1 and Vitesse beat FC Groningen 2-0.

PSV now lead the Eredivisie with 55 points after 21 matches, followed by Ajax (48), AZ (43), Feyenoord (36), PEC Zwolle (36) and Vitesse (34). Enditem