Blaise N'Kufo scored either side of half-time for the home side before Graziano Pelle pulled one back, but it proved to be no more than a consolation.

Demy de Zeeuw found Brazilian striker Ari on eight minutes but he failed to put the visitors in front, shooting straight at Twente keeper Sander Boschker.

De Zeeuw's effort three minutes later forced a decent save out of Boschker.

Twente's first chance came on 34 minutes when Karim El Ahmadi found Eljero Elia in space 18 yards out but the forward shot over the bar.

N'Kufo could have opened the scoring on 36 minutes but he headed straight at AZ keeper Sergio Romero from six yards.

Four minutes before half-time Ari fed Simon Cziommer but the German shot wide.

The deadlock was broken two minutes before the interval when N'Kufo's weak shot somehow snuck past Romero who should have done better.

Six minutes after the break Romero brought down N'Kufo in the box but Australian international Wilkshire saw the keeper make amends by keeping out his spot-kick.

Cziommer's 56th-minute free-kick from 25 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Boshker as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

But N'Kufo doubled Twente's lead on the hour mark when the Swiss striker steered home El Ahmadi's cross from the left.

Pelle pulled one back 12 minutes later when he poked the ball home after a scramble in the Twente penalty box.

Kew Jaliens could have squared matters four minutes from time when he met De Zeeuw's corner but his header went just wide.