There were only seconds remaining when Culina was judged to have pushed an opponent inside the area as the visitors pushed forward and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. He also produced the red card and sent Culina for an early shower.

Danijel Pranjic kept his cool to net a stoppage-time penalty as Heerenveen inflicted PSV Eindhoven's first loss since November to leapfrog their opponents into fourth place in the Eredivisie tonight.

Heerenveen went ahead through Paulo Henrique but Balazs Dzsudzsak equalised before Timmy Simons earned the hosts a half-time lead at the Philips Stadion.

Henrique netted a second six minutes into the second period to level for Heerenveen before Jason Culina fouled Pranjic in the penalty area, earning a red card and the visitors a penalty, which the Croatia striker converted.

PSV last lost a game on November 18 when they were beaten 4-1 by Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA and required victory to move level with the Amsterdammers on points.

But it was Heerenveen, also aiming to cut the gap to the top three, who went in front when Viktor Elm on the left found Henrique, who netted from the centre of the penalty area after 15 minutes.

PSV were on level terms 11 minutes later when Nordin Amrabat laid the ball on for Dzsudzsak, who struck the equaliser from the right side of the area.

And five minutes later, the hosts were in front.

Ibrahim Afellay's shot from the edge of the area was parried by Brian Vandenbussche and Simons was first to react, firing in from 10 yards.

Heerenveen responded after 51 minutes when Elm's header found Michael Dingsdag in the area. He scuffed his attempt but Henrique took possession and found the back of the net.

Amrabat's attempt ricocheted onto the crossbar off a Heerenveen defender before substitute Danny Koevermans spurned a close-range opportunity to restore PSV's advantage two minutes from time.

And in a cruel twist, PSV conceded a penalty on the stroke of full-time when Culina brought down Pranjic in the box and received his marching orders.

Pranjic stepped up himself to earn Heerenveen a 14th win of the season.