AZ Alkmaar and Ajax leapfrogged PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie table.
AZ Alkmaar and Ajax leapfrogged PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie table, although there is a three-way tie at the summit.
PSV started the day two points clear, but now trail their title rivals on goal difference after a 1-1 draw at Utrecht.
The champions enjoyed the ideal start when Ibrahim Afellay scored after 10 minutes, but Utrecht snatched an 86th minute equaliser from Alje Schut.
Louis van Gaal's AZ side lead the pack after a 3-1 home triumph over Heerenveen thanks to Simon Cziommer's brace.
Cziommer opened the scoring on 13 minutes and Shota Arveladze extended the lead on 38 minutes.
The prolific Afonso Alves brought Heerenveen back into the game on 72 minutes, but Cziommer's second of the match a minute from time sealed the points.
Ajax recorded a resounding 5-2 home win over Sparta Rotterdam after overcoming a spirited second-half comeback from the visitors.
Wesley Sneijder scored twice in the opening 17 minutes and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's 21st minute goal had Ajax on course for a rout.
But Sparta rallied with a goal before half-time through Rachid Bouaouzan and Inderlindo Moreno Freire reduced the deficit further two minutes after half-time.
Kenneth Perez's penalty on 76 minutes settled the Ajax nerves and Nicolae Mitea scored a fifth goal on 82 minutes.
Twente Enschede required an 87th minute goal from Blaise N'Kufo to claim a 1-1 draw at Vitesse Arnhem, who had gone in front via Ruud Knol's 57th minute spot-kick.
Feyenoord also drew 1-1, with Romeo Castelen putting the Kuip club in front at home to NEC Nijmegen, who levelled through Romano Denneboom.
Bottom club ADO Den Haag's game at home to Groningen was abandoned early in the second half with the visitors three goals to the good.
Erik Nevland had scored twice, either side of Goran Lovre's goal, to put Groningen in command before crowd trouble forced the game to be called off.
Heracles Almelo hung on for an important 3-2 win at home to relegation rivals Excelsior, who went in front on 32 minutes through Robert Braber.
Karim Bridji levelled on 58 minutes for Heracles and the home side scored twice in quick succession through Rob Friend and Everton before Excelsior pulled one back late on through Andwele Slory.
Pa-Modou Kah and Adil Ramzi earned Roda JC Kerkrade a 2-0 win at NAC Breda, who had Victor Sikora sent off on 43 minutes.
Bjorn Sengier's own goal handed RKC Waalwijk a much-needed point at home to Willem II Tilburg, who had taken a seventh minute lead through Cristiano.
Click below for an individual match summary:
ADO den Haag A-A Groningen
AZ Alkmaar 3-1 Heerenveen
Ajax 5-2 Sparta Rotterdam
Utrecht 1-1 PSV Eindhoven
Feyenoord 1-1 NEC Nijmegen
Heracles 3-2 Excelsior
NAC Breda 0-2 Roda JC
RKC Waalwijk 1-1 Willem II
Vitesse Arnhem 1-1 FC Twente
