Maza Rodriguez and Ola Toivonen scored vital goals as Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven moved three points clear of second-placed Twente with a 2-0 home win over ADO Den Haag. Steve McClaren's Twente take on Martin Jol's Ajax tomorrow in a match which gained in significance thanks to this result.

In front of a crowd of 33,100, PSV swept into the lead after 16 minutes when Balazs Dzsudzsak fired in an in-swinging corner from the right and Rodriguez powered home his headed opportunity.

The second goal arrived after 61 minutes, with Orlando Engelaar the architect. His pass from the right wing was met by Toivonen and, although ADO goalkeeper Robert Zwinkels blocked the Swede's initial shot, he was powerless to keep out the rebound.

Enevoldsen double
Fifth-placed Heracles Almelo continued their quest for European football with a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Groningen. Thomas Enevoldsen's brace had the visitors two up at the break, and Morten Nordstrand netted their third soon after Bas Dost had pulled one back at the start of the second half.

But Heracles never gave up and turned the match on its head in the final 20 minutes thanks to Dost's second goal of the evening, a 75th-minute equaliser from Willy Overtoom and Birger Maertens' winner two minutes from time.

Utrecht unable to break through
At the other end of the standings, Heerenveen gave themselves some breathing space above the drop zone with a 2-0 win over Utrecht in their first match since interim coach Jan de Jonge stepped down earlier this week.

Gerald Sibon broke the deadlock after five minutes and sealed the win from the penalty spot early in the second half as mid-table Utrecht failed to test Brian Vandenbussche in the home goal.

Roda remained level on points with Heerenveen by downing Sparta Rotterdam 2-1. Willem Janssen and Mads Junker netted the crucial goals for Roda, with Erik Falkenburg grabbing a late consolation for the struggling Rotterdammers.