Ajax hit Heracles for six

Ajax ran riot to signal their title-winning intent with a thumping 6-0 victory over Heracles. Locked in a six-team battle for the crown, the Amsterdam club took over top spot with the win, although AZ Alkmaar could reclaim it later today. Either way, Frank de Boer's men are firmly in the mix for the title, with their performance here sending out a clear warning sign to the rest. They opened the scoring in the first half through Theo Janssen and then cut loose in the second, with Lorenzo Ebecilio, Christian Eriksen, Vurnon Anita, Siem de Jong and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson all finding the net. It was one-way traffic from the off too, with Aras Ozbiliz whistling in a third-minute shot that signalled his side's intent. Eriksen then jinked into the box and shot at goal, before Toby Alderweireld had a header tipped over by Remko Pasveer. The first goal would come after 25 minutes, though, with Janssen extending his leg through a crowd of bodies after Tim Breukers' cross. There would be no more first-half action, but the second got off to a flying start. Just three minutes into it Janssen's cross was met by Ebecilio, who did the rest with his head, before on 53 minutes, Eriksen's shot was deflected in off Ebecilio, with the duo left to argue over who would take the credit. Everton registered Heracles' first effort after 55 minutes with a weak shot, before Ajax grabbed a fourth goal with 27 minutes left when Anita took the ball from Eriksen and found the bottom corner. Four became five when De Jong curled in an unstoppable effort from just inside the area, and the half-dozen was brought up two minutes from time when Sigthorsson, fresh on the pitch after a lengthy injury absence, took the ball from Janssen and tucked in.