THE HAGUE, Oct. 15 -- Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar drew 2-2 at Ajax on Saturday in Amsterdam and confirmed their surprising candidacy for the Dutch title, while PSV and FC Twente reduced their deficit with the leaders in the Dutch league.
AZ dominated the first half and opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a Brett Holman shot was deflected by Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld. Six minutes later AZ hit the target again.
Australian international Holman opened on Beerens and the latter chipped the ball over Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.
Ajax seemed completely overwhelmed by AZ after conceding two goals and the visitors could even have scored more. However, the home team made it until halftime and started well after the break.
After a Dirk Marcellis tackle on Derk Boerrigter referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the penalty spot and the penalty was converted by Miralem Sulejmani.
With Boerrigter, Christian Eriksen hitting the crossing bar and the crossbar also preventing an own goal by AZ midfielder Pontus Wernbloom Ajax was also a bit unlucky.
Ajax got even more unlucky when goalkeeper Vermeer had to be substituted due to an injury and Eyong Enoh received his second yellow card in the 70th minute.
Finally Theo Janssen, who was criticized for his performances in recent weeks, liberated Ajax with a long-distance strike.
"It' s not an unfair result if you look at the opportunity's both teams had," reacted AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek. "On the other hand in the final phase we had two chances to make the third goal."
His Ajax colleague Frank de Boer was disappointed.
"At home we have to win all our matches," he said. "In the first half we lost the ball too much and looked very vulnerable. After the break we dared to put pressure and caused AZ trouble."
FC Twente thanked Marc Janko for their 4-0 victory at RKC Waalwijk. The Austrian striker scored three times (one penalty) with Wout Brama producing the other goal.
PSV booked a meager 1-0 win over FC Utrecht. Swedish international Ola Toivonen became match winner in the 71th minute. After a foul on Tim Matavz FC Utrecht defender Marcus Nilsson received a red card in the 80th minute.
PSV and FC Twente moved within two points of AZ Alkmaar, which leads the standings with 22 points after nine matches. Ajax remains six points behind the leaders.