体坛英语新闻：Ajax moves closer to Dutch title

THE HAGUE, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Ajax enlarged the margin with the other title contenders in the Dutch Eredivisie to six points by beating De Graafschap 3-1 on Sunday in Amsterdam.

Derk Boerrigter scored two goals, Christian Eriksen added one and Michael de Leeuw produced the consolation goal of the visitors. After half-time both teams were not able to find the net.

On Saturday Ajax's closest rival AZ Alkmaar lost 3-2 at PSV Eindhoven. Jeremain Lens gave the home team the lead, but Jozy Altidore and Roy Beerens handed AZ a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Lens equalized after a cross by substitute Memphis Depay in the 77th minute and another substitute, Tim Matavz, earned PSV the win in injury time.

Last Wednesday AZ already squandered a 2-1 lead in the final minutes against FC Twente (2-2).

"We should have had six points out of the last two matches," AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek said. "But I still believe in the title. As I always said, as long as you don't need four points in the final match it's possible."

Also on Saturday FC Twente dropped points in the final minutes of the home game against NAC Breda: 2-2. Alex Schalk gave the visitors the lead, but Twente bounced back thanks to two goals by Luuk de Jong. Nourdin Boukhari equalized for NAC three minutes in injury-time.

Feyenoord and sc Heerenveen profited from the losses of their rivals, with Feyenoord beating Excelsior 3-0 and Heerenveen defeating NEC 4-2 in Nijmegen.

The battle for the second place, which guarantees a place in the preliminary round of the Champions League next season, is still tight. AZ remains on second place, but Feyenoord is on the same amount of 58 points now. FC Twente, PSV and sc Heerenveen are all on 57 points.