It’s the culmination of what will probably be the busiest week in the Eredivisie this season.  With last weekend hosting week 20 matches, week 21 ran from Tuesday through Thursday; while week 22 began shortly there after on Friday, ending Sunday morning.  For most clubs it was three league matches in about a span of a week. 

More than likely it’s too early to tell, but has this hectic schedule finally awoken the sleeping giant that is Ajax Amsterdam?  After Luis Suarez erupted for four goals in a midweek thrashing of Roda JC Kerkrade, the red and white shirts now had revenge on the mind.

A 1-0 loss to Twente Enschede in November, still haunts coach Martin Jol’s side, a match dominated by Ajax but was stolen by the heroics of Bryan Ruiz.  This time at the historic Amsterdam Arena, Ruiz and company could do nothing to stop Ajax.

Midfielder Demy De Zeeuw got things started intercepting a Twente pass just outside the box, and sent a low-bouncing shot to the far corner for the 22nd minute goal. 

Just before the half, Suarez lead the Ajax attack for another goal.  With options at both his sides, Suarez curled his shot around the defender but was denied by the post.  His shot came right to Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel, whose shot deflected off the Twente goalkeeper, Sander Boschker, and right to Marko Pantelic for the tapper from four yards out.

In the 75th minute, Rasmus Lindgren knocked down a Twente clearance and found Pantelic inside the box.  The Ajax striker, with his back to goal, settled the ball and found a charging Dennis Rommedahl, who beat the off balance Boschker to his left for the final goal in a very impressive 3-0 win for the home team.

The win leaves Ajax four points behind Twente, who have now given up its share of first place.  Both teams continue to chase PSV, who sit atop the table with 55 points.

PSV is now the only undefeated side in Holland after beating ADO Den Haag 2-0 at home.  Defender Rodriguez Francisco scored at near post with a 16th minute header off a corner.  Ola Toivonen scored his 12th goal of the season for the second and final goal of the match.  ADO thought it had the Swede in an off-sides position, but he was kept on by a defender.  His initial shot was deflected by goalkeeper Robert Zwinkels, but Toivonen headed in the rebound for the 61st minute goal.

Fourth-place Feyenoord Rotterdam had not lost since November, until AZ Alkmaar came to town.  The hosts performed poorly, while it was somewhat of a vintage AZ display, dating back to last season’s championship form. 

Mounir El Hamdaoui cleaned up a missed header in the 28th minute, for his 7th goal of the season.  Feyenoord would eventually draw even, but only in part to a Pontus Wernbloom own goal, in what appeared to be a miscommunicated pass back to the goalkeeper, Rob Van Dijk.

In the 87th minute, Feyenoord defender Hector Moreno headed in a Stijn Schaars corner for the match-winner.  The match finished 2-1 in favor of AZ.

The match of the week honors go to SC Heracles Almelo hosting FC Groningen.  Down 2-0 after a pair of almost identical goals by Groningen midfielder Thomas Enevoldsen, Bas Dost, the towering Heracles striker, cut the deficit to one with a header less than a minute into the second-half. 

Morten Nordstrand then but his team back up by two, when he redirected a Danny Holla free kick in the 50th minute.  Dost would again reduce the lead to one with a tapper in the 72nd minute.  Three minutes later, Willy Overtoom hit an equalizer from 22 yards out that bent just inside the right post.

And with the clock approaching 90 minutes, Birger Maertens settled a corner and sent his shot dipping to the far corner of the goal for the dramatic match winner.

The team that has been battling Heracles for fifth-place most of the season is FC Utrecht.  But Utrecht have not won since December, when it beat Ajax at home.  And thanks to SC Heerenveen and Gerald Sibon, Utrecht are now losers of two straight and have dropped to eighth place. 

Sibon converted first from inside the six and again from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, to give Heerenveen the convincing 2-0 win.

With no midweek matches this week, Eredivisie squads should be well rested for next weekends action.  The match to watch will be Heracles hosting Ajax. 

When in form, Heracles has been able to score at will, as seen by its four-goal performance this week.  But Ajax may be the hottest team in the Netherlands right now.  Will the form continue or will inconsistency rear its ugly head once again?  The last two weeks have been too impressive to believe in the latter.  Even on the road, Ajax wins somewhat comfortably.

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