Alkmaar, Netherlands (SportsNetwork.com) - Nemanja Gudelj scored twice inside the opening 18 minutes at the AFAS Stadion on Saturday as AZ Alkmaar earned a 2-0 win over Groningen.
Gudelj made it a perfect start for the home side when he opened the scoring in just the third minute of play.
It proved to be all Alkmaar would need for the win, but Gudelj added to the lead in the 18th minute to put his side firmly in the driver's seat.
AZ Alkmaar has won two of its last three Eredivisie matches to climb to sixth place with 30 points, moving the club two points clear of ninth-place Groningen.
Heerenveen bounced back from a disappointing defeat last time out to get a 3-0 win over Den Haag on Saturday. All three goals came in the second half as Kenny Otigba, Alfred Finnbogason and Rajiv Van La Parra bagged a goal apiece to lift the club to 33 points on the season.
Also on Saturday, Zwolle ran out at the IJsseldelta Stadion to a 3-1 defeat of Roda while goals from Jordy Buijs and Rydell Poepon helped NAC Breda to a 2-1 victory over Heracles.
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