AZ Alkmaar rounded off a great week by seeing off PEC Zwolle 2-1 at the AFAS Stadion in Sunday’s only Eredivisie game.
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After booking their place in the last eight of the Europa League in Russia on Thursday, AZ could have been forgiven for starting the game sluggishly. However after only six minutes Steven Berghuis opened the scoring when his cross from the right hand side missed the head of Aron Johannsson and nestled in the bottom corner.
On 14 minutes it was 2-0 as Nemanja Gudelj fired past Diederik Boer after PEC Zwolle failed to clear inside their box, and AZ seemed like they would run riot.
Despite a number of chances AZ failed to kill the game off, and PEC Zwolle found a lifeline two minutes before the break with Mustafa Saymak heading in Jesper Drost’s cross to make it 2-1.
In the second half AZ Alkmaar were awarded a penalty for a foul by Joost Broerse on Aron Johannsson, but the striker’s weak spot kick was kept out by Boer.
PEC Zwolle pushed for an equaliser, but the home side held on for all three points, which seems them remain in 7th spot, but they are now only four points off Heerenveen in third. PEC Zwolle remain 8th.