THE HAGUE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- PSV booked their eighth win of the season, 5-1 at FC Utrecht on Sunday, to maintain the lead in the Dutch eredivisie.
PSV decided the match within the first 25 minutes. Adam Maher opened the scoring from a cross by Willems. A foul by Van der Maarel on Luuk de Jong led to the second yellow card for the Utrecht defender and a penalty for PSV. Memphis Depay converted the penalty in the 23rd minute and Jorrit Hendrix made it 3-0 for the visitors two minutes later with the first league goal of his career.
With 10 men against 11 and three goals behind the mission for Utrecht was impossible. Ruud Boymans scored for Utrecht after half-time, but after an own goal by Christian Kum and a late strike by substitute Georginio Wijnaldum, who returned from a knee injury, earned PSV the big win.
"We played excellent in the first," said PSV coach Phillip Cocu afterwards at the press conference. "Everything went according to our plan, which led to a lot of opportunities. However, I have to remain critical. Against 10 men we should not allow a goal. That should be better."
Also on Sunday FC Twente suffered their first defeat of the season, 2-1 at Excelsior. Luc Castaignos gave Twente an early lead with a smashing shot, but Tom van Weert and Jeff Stans led Rotterdam based Excelsior to a victory.
Jens Toornstra earned Feyenoord a 1-0 victory at SC Cambuur, while PEC Zwolle drew 2-2 against sc Heerenveen.
On Saturday Ajax defeated Go Ahead Eagles 3-1, Vitesse drew 2-2 versus NAC Breda and AZ and FC Groningen also drew 2-2.
PSV now lead the standings with 24 points from 10 matches, followed by Ajax (10-20) and Feyenoord (10-17) and PEC Zwolle (10-17).