Maarten Martens was the difference as AZ Alkmaar edged into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 win at Anderlecht.
AZ Alkmaar ease past Anderlecht in the Europa League
Maarten Martens was the difference as AZ Alkmaar edged into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 win at Anderlecht.
The result matched their scoreline at home last week and sets them up with a trip to Italian side Udinese in the last 16 despite a shaky start to the match.
Just 30 seconds were on the clock when Anderlecht created the first chance from a corner, Wasilewski heading over from Lucas Biglia's delivery while Matias Suarez's sumptuous volley followed with just five minutes gone.
The Argentinian striker was fully 30 yards from goal when he raced on to a looping ball and drilled towards goal first time, leaving Esteban Alvarado beaten but crashing off the inside of the post.
AZ, with the lead in the bank from the previous match, were creating little of their own and absorbed another chance when Guillaume Gillet missed the target in the 13th minute.
When the Dutch side finally mustered something positive of their own, Brett Holman deposited Roy Beerens' cross over the bar.
The sides settled into a period of stalemate until five minutes before the break when Sacha Kljestan beat the wall with a free-kick that needed an athletic save from Alvarado, who tipped over the top.
AZ's Adam Maher had a wonderful chance moments into the second half, beating the offside trap and bearing down on Silvio Proto but dragging his shot wide of the far post.
Both teams seemed more open as the second period continued, Milan Jovanovic missing a headed chance and Beerens working Proto at the other end soon after.
With 54 minutes gone, AZ were ahead. Beerens provided a glorious cross from a deep position on the right, Martens showed impressive technique to meet the ball with a side-footed volley and a heavy deflection off Wasilewski took the ball across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
That away goal made Gertjan Verbeek's side heavy favourites and Anderlecht were unable to change that despite Dieudonne Mbokani hitting the crossbar with an effort off his back in the final seconds.
