FC Groningen kept up their challenge for a place in the UEFA Cup with a convincing 3-1 victory over FC Utrecht in the second leg of their play-off.

With the tie poised at 2-2 following the first match, Marcus Berg fired Groningen in front at Euroborg midway through the second half.

Kevin Vandenbergh levelled matters for the visitors shortly after coming off the bench, but two goals in as many minutes from Ondrej Svejdik and Berg saw Groningen advance 5-3 on aggregate.

They will now face NEC Nijmegen in the play-off final for a place in next season's UEFA Cup after they progressed with a comfortable 2-0 win over Roda JC on Sunday - 3-0 on aggregate.

After losing their home leg 1-0, Roda were always in for a difficult afternoon and it got even tougher when Jhonny van Beukering put NEC ahead on the day five minutes before the break.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Roda, who offered little after the break, and their fate was sealed when Dominique Kivuvu made it 3-0 on aggregate after 84 minutes.