PSV hold Ajax amid ‘keepers’ drama

French leaders Marseille beat champions RC Lens 1-0 at the Stade Velodrome to take their unbeaten run to 14 matches. Italian champions Juventus lost 2-0 to AS Roma, Dutch champions Ajax drew 2-2 at home to PSV Eindhoven and Scottish champions Celtic went down 2-1 to St Johnstone.

A round-up of the European highlights this weekend

NETHERLANDS: PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus was sent off and his stand-in Patrick Lodewijks carried off in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Ajax Amsterdam last night.

Feyenoord Rotterdam regained Dutch league leadership by beating Fortuna Sittard, who also losttheir goalkeeper, 4-1. Waterreus was sent off in the 77th minute when he stopped striker Brutil Hose firing Ajax ahead with what would have been his first team goal.

When substitute Hose beat PSV’s offside trap, Waterreus was forced to foul him. The goalkeeper walked off before referee Jaap Uilenberg drew the red card.

Waterreus was replaced by reserve goalkeeper Lodewijks as coach Bobby Robson took off captain and outfield player Luc Nilis. But about 10 minutes after going on, Lodewijks was kicked in the head by Dani as he dived for the ball. The Portuguese received a yellow card for his aggression although Robson said it should have been a red for violent and dangerous play.

Lodewijks suffered a bad cut on his eyebrow which needed on-pitch stitches as PSV had no other goalkeeper available. The injured keeper lasted the remainder of the game but he collapsed at the final whistle and was carried off with suspected concussion. He was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Injury-hit champions Ajaxhad gone a goal down when Tomek Iwan beat the offside trap after only eight minutes. Wamberto levelled in the 26th minute but only five minutes later, PSV were ahead again when Nilis punished a defensive blunder by Richard Witschge.

Ajax were far stronger in the second half but scored only once from a string of chances. The goal arrived in the 61st minute when Frank de Boer headed home a corner by twin brother Ronald. The ball went in via the hands of Waterreus and the back of PSV mid-fielder Robert Fuchs’ head.

Fortuna ‘keeper Arno Van Der Zwam received his marching orders just two minutes into the game for bringing down Feyenoord’s Paul Bosvelt outside the box.

Feyenoord went ahead ahead after 19 minutes through Paul Bosvelt but seven minutes before half-time, Regillio Simons levelled.

Feyenoord finally pulled clear with second half goals by Patrick Paauwe, Jon Dahl Tomasson and a Peter Van Vossen penalty. Feyenoord now have 29 points, one point and a game in hand over Heerenveen, who went top lastweekend.

Ajax filled third place, level on points with Heerenveen, whose Friesian Derby against Cambuur Leeuwarden, was rescheduled to November 24 for television purposes.

ITALY: Leaders Fiorentina, who had their appeal against being kicked out of the Uefa Cup rejected yesterday, went down 4-2 at Piacenza but stayed one point clear at the top after Juventus lost 2-0 to Roma.

Roma went second on goal difference from Juve in something of a grudge match, their goals coming from Brazilian Paolo Sergio and France’s Vincent Candela.

At the bottom, newly-promoted Venezia won a Serie A match for the first time in 30 years, beating Lazio 2-0.

GERMANY: Bayern Munich, with Brazilian striker Elber in fine form, beat VFB Stuttgart 2-0 on Saturday to go five points clear of Bayer Leverkusen at the top.

Champions Kaiserslautern beat struggling Werder Bremen 1-0 for their fourth consecutive victory.

Bottom side Borussia Moenchengladbach ended a run of six defeats in a row with a 1-1 draw at HansaRostock.

FRANCE: Marseille forged four points clear of Girondins Bordeaux after a goal from Christophe Dugarry saw off RC Lens.

Girondins and third-placed Rennes, nine points behind Marseille, both drew their respective matches 0-0.

Marseille, chasing their first title since 1992, have now won eight consecutive league games. Monaco, the 1997 champions, lost 3-1 at Bastia.