Football: PSV miss chance to close the gap on Ajax

OVERSEAS ROUND-UP

PSV Eindhoven, seeking to close the gap on leaders Ajax in the Dutch league, dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 away draw against a depleted Groningen side yesterday.

The Dutch champions, who failed to make the most of a host of chances, scored their only goal in the 51st minute when Arnold Bruggink headed home from a Tomek Iwan cross.

Bruggink replaced the Belgian international Luc Nilis, who was on international duty, busy scoring the winning goal against Ireland that put Belgium into next year's World Cup finals.

PSV's lead lasted one minute before Groningen equalised from their only real chance of the match, when Mariano Bombarda headed a long pass past goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus.

The draw left second-placed PSV on 33 points from 15 games behind Ajax, who have 40 from 14 and did not play at the weekend. Closing in are Vitesse Arnhem, third with 31 points from 15 matches after beating NEC Nijmegen 2-0.

Struggling Feyenoord failed to beat Graafschap Doetinchem, despite their opponents playing the last half-hour with 10 men after goalkeeper Ron Olyslager was sent off for handling the ball outside the box.

The game ended in a goalless draw, leaving Feyenoord fifth with 25 points from 15 games.