AZ moved up to second position in the Eredivisie standings. The gap with the leader Feyenoord is 2 points. Ajax follow at 1 point. Feyenoord host FC Groningen on Saturday and Ajax take on the NEC in front of their home crowd on Sunday.
Karlsson scored in the 29th minute. Just after the opener, Jens Odgaard missed a great opportunity to score a second goal for AZ, who travel to Lazio for a Conference League match on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Scherpen escaped again in the 64th minute when Djordje Mihailovic hit the crossbar. The American replaced the suspended Jordy Clasie.