Twente lose ground, Vitesse close

Twente lost ground on Eredivisie leaders PSV after being held to a 1-1 draw by Utrecht. The second-placed side got off to the best possible start when Willem Janssen gave them the lead after just two minutes with his second league goal of the season. However, sixth-placed Utrecht bounced back relatively quickly and Jacob Mulenga equalised 15 minutes later, scoring for the third successive match. Twente now trail PSV by three points after the leaders thrashed Den Haag 6-1 yesterday. Vitesse closed to within two points of Twente after an eventful 4-1 home win over NEC, who finished the match with eight men after three red cards. The visitors took the lead after three minutes through Melvin Platje but Wilfried Bony quickly equalised before NEC had Victor Palsson sent off just before half-time for a second bookable offence. Guram Kashia put Vitesse in front moments after the interval and after Bony added his second 10 minutes from the end NEC fell apart as Remy Amieux became the second player to be dismissed for a second yellow card before Ryan Koolwijk walked for a straight red. Substitute Mike Havenaar wrapped up the scoring three minutes from time. Feyenoord also moved closer to second-placed Twente with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to bottom side Willem II. Lex Immers gave the hosts a 33rd-minute lead but they did not press home their advantage until after the break when Graziano Pelle scored twice in six minutes to take his tally to eight in the last five games. Heracles ran out 5-1 winners against ten-man Roda with Lerin Duarte (two), Willy Overtoom, Geoffrey Castillion and Samuel Armenteros all on target for the hosts. Sanharib Malki had briefly made it 1-1 late in the first half for Roda before the dismissal of goalkeeper Filip Kurto, with the score at 2-1, swung the match.