THE HAGUE, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- PSV and AZ started the Eredivisie season with a bang, while Ajax and Feyenoord had a disappointing opening weekend of the 2018-2019 season.
Feyenoord, which beat PSV to win the Dutch Super Cup last week, had a horrible afternoon at De Graafschap, promoted to the Eredivisie last season, in Doetinchem on Sunday. After Fabian Serrarens put the home-team in front, Feyenoord had difficulties to bounce back and after Eric Botteghin and Jean-Paul Boetius received their second yellow booking the visitors had to finish the match with nine players. Stef Nijland put a definite end to the match by scoring the second goal for De Graafschap in injury time: 2-0.
On Saturday, reigning champions PSV booked a convincing 4-0 victory over FC Utrecht. Gaston Pereiro opened the scoring from a free-kick and Steven Bergwijn, Hirving Lozano and new signing Denzel Dumfries produced the other goals.
Also on Saturday Ajax displayed a lackluster performance against Heracles Almelo in Amsterdam. Kristoffer Peterson smashed Heracles in front in the 84th minute, but a header by Matthijs de Ligt brought Ajax a point four minutes later, putting the score 1-1.
Eredivisie debutant FC Emmen beat ADO 2-1 on Sunday, while Vitesse crushed FC Groningen 5-1. On Saturday VVV-Venlo defeated Willem II 1-0, Excelsior and Fortuna Sittard drew 1-1 and SC Heerenveen was too strong for PEC in Zwolle (3-2).
