Soccer-NAC beat Sparta 3-0 to go third in Netherlands

By Theo Ruizenaar

AMSTERDAM, March 1 (Reuters) - Anthony Lurling struck twice after the break to hand NAC Breda a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch league on Saturday.

Lurling set up Hungarian Csaba Feher after eight minutes to open the scoring and settled the match with his two goals after keeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar had saved a penalty from Charles Dissels three minutes into the second half.

With eight matches remaining, PSV Eindhoven, travelling to Utrecht on Sunday, are top with 59 points.

Ajax, at home to Excelsior Rotterdam on Sunday, are second with 50 points, level with third-placed NAC, while Feyenoord, at home to NEC Nijmegen, slipped to fourth with 48.

Youssouf Hersi headed home the winner 12 minutes from time for Twente Enschede, who climbed to seventh with a 1-0 home win over sixth-placed Heerenveen.

Simon Cziommer hammered home a 20-metre free kick 10 minutes from time to salvage a point for AZ Alkmaar in a 1-1 draw at Roda JC Kerkrade, who had gone ahead after three minutes when Willem Janssen was on target.

Willem II Tilburg came from behind to beat 10-man Graafschap Doetinchem 2-1 and climb off the bottom.

Niklas Tarvajarvi opened the scoring for Graafschap after three minutes but Rydell Poepon equalised before the interval and Frank Demouge scored just inside the hour to seal Tilburg's first away win this season.

Graafschap's Stephan Keller was sent off six minutes from time for a professional foul. (Editing by Rex Gowar)