体坛英语新闻：AZ Alkmaar march on toward 1st Dutch title in 28 years

BRUSSELS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Dutch premier league leaders AZ Alkmaar scored a narrow 1-0 victory away at Utrecht on Sunday to move a step closer to their first league title in 28 years.

    Against 8th-ranked Utrecht, AZ was dominant from start to finish, but squandered many chances to score. At the 12th minute, Belgian Maarten Martens scored from the left side of the box to give the visitors their 4th consecutive victory.

    With the latest win, AZ have extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches after suffering two successive defeats at the start of the season.

    AZ, coached by legendary Luis van Gaal, are now in the driving seat to clinch the league title as they have maintained an 11-point lead over second-placed Twente, who have 58 points. With seven matches to go, AZ can take the trophy if they can win 4matches more.

    Ajax, ranked-third currently, kept the pressure on AZ with a big win at home against De Graafschap 3-0. Uruguayan international Luis Suarez opened the score at the 23rd minute with a brilliant 25-meter free kick. Argentine Dario Cvitanich made it 2-0 for the hosts at the 42nd minute with a close-range shot in the box. At the 70th minute, Suarez converted a penalty kick to seal the victory for Ajax.

    In other two matches on Sunday, Feyenoord beat defending champions PSV Eindhoven 1-0, and Den Haag whipped NEC Nijmegen 3-0.