Heerenveen midfield ace Michael Bradley continued his goal scoring ways on Wednesday night, bagging the opener in a 5-1 triumph over VVV Venlo.

The home side were booted into the lead by the US international midway through the opening period. Miralem Sulejmani was able reach the touchline by going wide before his cutback was well finished by the onrushing Bradley, who now has 13 goals across all competitions this term.

The young American returned the favor moments later with an almost accidental assist on Sulejmani's blistering drive from 20 meters.

Six minutes before the break, Jakob Poulsen made it 3-0 by nodding home a pinpoint Danijel Pranjić cross.

Gerald Sibon grabbed an easy fourth near the hour, tipping in unmarked after Sulejmani forced a turnover in the area to pick out the forward in the abandoned goalmouth.

Sandro Calabro put VVV on the board with a rasping long range shot on 81 minutes, but the deficit cut would not hold as Pranjić headed home from some Roy Beerens industry in the waning moments.

The win boosts Heerenveen up to fourth place ahead of Saturday's trip to De Graafschap.

Scoring
HEER - Michael Bradley 9 (Miralem Sulejmani) 23'
HEER - Miralem Sulejmani 6 (Michael Bradley) 28'
HEER - Jakob Poulsen 3 (Danijel Pranjić) 39'
HEER - Gerald Sibon 9 (Miralem Sulejmani) 59'
VVV - Sandro Calabro 81'
HEER - Danijel Pranjić 5 (Roy Beerens) 89'

Line-ups
HEER - Rob van Dijk; Gianni Zuiverloon, Henrico Drost (Calvin Jong-A-Pin 69'), Michael Dingsdag, Michel Breuer, Jakob Poulsen (Roy Beerens 63'), Michael Bradley, Geert Arend Roorda (Thomas Prager 74'), Danijel Pranjić, Gerald Sibon, Miralem Sulejmani

VVV - Danny Wintjens; Mike Mampuya, Sjors Verdellen, Ekrem Kahya, Niels Fleuren; Edwin Linssen, Keisuke Honda, Adil Auassar, Rachid Ofrany (Sandro Calabro 74'), Jason Oost (Karim Soltani 77'), Nordin Amrabat (Samir El Gaaouiri 77')