Two goals in first-half stoppage-time helped PSV Eindhoven beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1 and leapfrog their opponents into second place in the Eredivisie.

Manuel Da Costa gave the visitors the lead after 12 minutes and the game was effectively over when Edison Mendez and Arouna Kone made sure just before half-time.

Demy De Zeeuw pulled one back in a more even second half, but it was PSV who claimed the points to take up the pursuit of leaders Ajax.

It was a well-worked corner which led to PSV's opener.

Jefferson Farfan's cross found Phillip Cocu in the penalty area and he knocked the ball back to Da Costa, whose sweet strike found the back of the net.

Farfan's set pieces continued to trouble the hosts, and after 33 minutes he set up Alex but the Brazilian sent his header inches wide of the post.

AZ must have felt they had done enough to reach the interval with just a one-goal deficit, but things were about to go drastically wrong.

With the match into first-half stoppage time, Farfan's cross was missed by everybody and eventually made its way to Mendez, who found the top corner with a left-foot volley.

And just seconds later it was three as Kone curled a right-footed effort from 20 yards past Joseph Didulica.

Shell-shocked AZ regrouped in the break and finally fashioned some chances in the second half.

Shota Arveladze went through one-on-one eight minutes after the interval, but his attempted lob failed to clear Gomes in the PSV goal.

But he made up for it when his pass set up De Zeeuw, who buried it from 12 yards.

It was too little too late for Louis van Gaal's men, who lost both matches to PSV last season and, on this evidence, will have a battle not to do the same this time around.