AMSTERDAM -- Japan midfielder Shinji Ono got off to a winning start in his second season in the Dutch first division as Feyenoord beat NEC Nijmegen 2-0 on Sunday in the opening round of season.

Ono, who made his league debut for Feyenoord as a late substitute in last season's opener against Sparta, was on from the start this time around and started the move for the first goal as Bonaventure Kalou put the UEFA Cup winner in front in the 77th minute.

Australian winger Brett Emerton grabbed a second at De Kuip Stadium four minutes later to make the game safe for the home side.

"Breaking into the starting side shows I've made progress over the last year. But more is expected of me now and I have to make sure I don't let anyone down," said Ono.

"The squad is not in great shape right now so getting the three points was vital."

Second-half goals from Ahmed "Mido" Hossam and Steven Pienaar gave Ajax, the defending Dutch league champion, a 3-1 win over FC Utrecht.

Tomas Galasek got Ajax going in just the fifth minute, but Ajax's Christian Chivu equalized for Utrecht with an own-goal in the 31st minute.

Mido headed in the game-winner in front of 35,000 spectators at the Amsterdam Arena in the 79th minute, taking a long pass from Victor Sikora. Pienaar added the insurance in the 85th.

Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven each have three points after the first round. PSV beat Excelsior Rotterdam 2-0 on Saturday.

In other Sunday games, Vitesse Arnhem beat FC Groningen 2-1 and RKC Waalwijk beat De Graafschap Doetinchem 4-2.