Holman, who put in a full shift in the victory, was at the heart of a series of AZ attacks in the first-half including one where his shot skimmed off the crossbar.

With Holman pulling the strings, AZ had been dominant in the first-half for no reward, but they got their two goals in the second stanza through Pontus Wernbloom and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Meanwhile, there was no sign of James Holland in the AZ squad.

Elsewhere, Mark Schwarzer kept a clean sheet as Fulham drew 0-0 in Croatia with Split.

Ryan McGowan played a full game as Hearts drew 1-1 at Hungarian club Paksi.

Ante Covic had an evening to forget as Elfsborg lost 4-0 at Norwegians Aalesund.

Brent McGrath made his first competitive appearance of the season as a 59th-minute substitute in Brondby's 2-0 loss at Austrian club SV Ried.

Ljubo Milicevic and Steve Lustica were not in the Hajduk Split squad which lost 1-0 at Stoke City.

Finally, Kerem Bulut, who is off with the Young Socceroos, probably won't see European action this season after his Czech club Mlada Boleslav lost 3-0 at AEK Larnaca.