AZ have defeated Cambuur 2-0 this evening to close in on a top-three spot in the Eredivisie table.

The match looked to be heading towards a half-time stalemate until the referee pointed to the spot following a handball inside the area, which gifted the visitors a chance to take a foothold in the game.

Nemanja Gudelj stepped up to take the penalty and duly converted, giving AZ a slender lead six minutes before the half-time interval.

Alkmaar, who came into this game on the back of successive league victories, doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the restart through Gudelj's second strike of the contest.

Cambuur looked for an equaliser in the remainder of the clash, but were unable to find a way through as AZ claimed all three points.

AZ are now level with third-placed FC Twente, while Cambuur drop down to eighth following this defeat.