AZ Alkmaar continued their assault for European football with a 3-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles but not without controversy in the Eredivisie clash at De Adelaarshorst.

After a goalless first half where neither team threatened to break the deadlock, Wouter Weghorst finally opened the scoring for Alkmaar with a powerful left-footed strike on 69 minutes after being played through by Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Iranian winger Jahanbakhsh turned from provider to scorer to double the visitors' lead six minutes from time with a wonderful 30-yard effort that left Eagles goalkeeper Theo Zwarthoed with no chance.

The hosts halved the deficit through a Jarchino Antonia penalty with a minute remaining to give AZ a brief scare before Jahanbakhsh scored a controversial spot-kick in stoppage-time.

The penalty sparked Go Ahead players to appeal to referee Danny Makkelie as goalkeeper Zwarthoed was distracted by a second match ball that was thrown onto the pitch by a spectator in the crowd - that was directly in the view of the 34-year-old as Jahanbakhsh struck the spot-kick.

But Makkelie ignored their appeals and blew for full-time to confirm the three points for the visitors which moved them up to fourth in the league table, three points behind PSV in the Europa League place.