Everton extended their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions and ended the Uefa Cup group stage with a 100 per cent record after a 3-2 victory away to AZ Alkmaar last night. It was the Dutch side’s first home defeat in a European contest for 32 matches.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, left several senior players at home with qualification for the last 32 secure but the visiting side took the lead after only 63 seconds when Andrew Johnson scored at the near post. Alkmaar equalised in the seventeenth minute when Graziano Pelle clipped a shot into the corner but Everton regained the lead two minutes before half-time thanks to a header by Phil Jagielka. It was the defender’s first goal after his £4.5 million move from Sheffield United in the summer.

Alkmaar drew level again in the 66th minute when Kew Jaliens beat Stefan Wessels at the far post from a corner, but Everton made sure of four wins from four in group A in the 80th minute when substitute James Vaughan showed a cool head to score.

Aberdeen joined Everton in the knockout phase after two goals from Jamie Smith helped them to a 4-0 home win over Copenhagen. It will give Aberdeen their first European football after Christmas for more than 20 years. Mikael Antonsson scored an own goal and Richard Foster scored at the back post with eight minutes left to complete the sweep.