Former Spurs striker Troy Parrott got a golden opportunity to put AZ ahead after only ten minutes, but the Irishman fired a header right at PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez and missed the following rebound wide right.
The home side got another lucky break shortly after when American Richard Ledezma kept Parrott from again goal with a last-ditch effort on the goal line.
AZ stayed the most dangerous side of the two and got what it deserved after 41 minutes when Swedish winger Mayckel Lahdo found some space in PSV’s penalty box and neatly slotted the ball past Benitez for the lead.
PSV shot out the gates after the break and repeatedly took AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro under fire, but the league leaders couldn’t find their way to the lead just yet.
Facing the difficult task to break AZ's low block down, manager Peter Bosz brought on three subs after an hour in an attempt to bolster the attack.
It didn't take long for the former Borussia Dortmund boss to pick the fruits of his labour with freshly subbed on Johan Bakayoko delivering an inch-perfect low cross to Luuk de Jong, who slotted the ball past Owusu-Oduro to make it 1-1.
In an attempt to one-up his opponent, AZ boss Maarten Martens brought on youngster Mexx Meerdink for the unlucky Troy Parrott and got rewarded straight away with Meerdink graciously heading in a Sven Mijnans cross and restoring AZ's lead.
Closing in on the final whistle and still down one, PSV pushed to salvage at least a point and hold title-chasing Ajax - who beat RKC Waalwijk 2-1 earlier on Saturday - off as much as possible.
The team from Eindhoven managed to find another way through the AZ defense and forced a penalty after referee Danny Makkelie spotted a handball. Captain Luuk de Jong beat Owusu-Oduro a second time, albeit not as convincing with the Dutch youth international coming close to saving the spot kick.
After AZ came close one more time in injury time - Zico Buurmeester saw his effort get blocked by Ryan Flamingo - PSV had to settle for a singular point and saw Ajax close the gap to four points. AZ came away with points for the fourth time in the last five away games in Eindhoven and will host Ajax in the quarter final tie of the KNVB Cup next Tuesday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Luuk de Jong (PSV)
Check the match summary with Flashscore.
