FC Utrecht reached the finals of the play-offs for European football. The Utrecht team beat sc Heerenveen Saturday evening in Stadium Galgenwaard 2-1, after beating the Frisians earlier this week 1-3 in the Abe Lenstra Stadium.
 
In a period of almost ten minutes FC Utrecht was able to break sc Heerenveen. Mentally that was. After half an hour into the game defender Ramon Leeuwin scored after a corner by Yassin Ayoub. Leeuwin? He was barely covered, the 1-0 fell into his lap. The second goal came eight minutes later. Richairo Zivkovic benefited from poor defending of the Frisians and scored the 2-0.  

A seat of flowers
The game? It was as good as decided. FC Utrecht won a couple of days earlier 1-3 in Friesland and with the 2-0 lead it could hardly go wrong anymore. The finals of the play-offs for European football within reach.
 
Happy faces
The good prospect became reality. FC Utrecht – sc Heerenveen ended 2-1 – Reza Ghoochannejhad scored from the penalty spot after an hour into the game – and Utrecht could celebrate. A round through the stadium to thank the supporters and happy faces everywhere, because the finals were reached.

Good score
Over the two legs FC Utrecht beat sc Heerenveen 5-2. That is a good score, but it could have been even better. The Utrecht team created many chances in an atmospheric Stadium Galgenwaard.
 
Finals
In the finals of the play-offs FC Utrecht first play an away game and than a home game against the winner of the other semi-final. In short: there will be two games against either AZ or FC Groningen. The away game is on Thursday 25 May at 20.45 and the return at Stadium Galgenwaard is on Sunday 28 May at 12.30.

FC Utrecht - sc Heerenveen 2-1 (2-0)
30. Ramon Leeuwin 1-0
38. Richairo Zivkovic 2-0
61. Reza Ghoochannejhad (penalty) 2-1

Yellow card: Willem Janssen (FC Utrecht).

Attendance: 14,152.

Referee: Dennis Higler.

Line-up FC Utrecht:
David Jensen; Sean Klaiber (71. Giovanni Troupée), Ramon Leeuwin, Willem Janssen, Jeff Hardeveld (82. Edson Braafheid); Wout Brama, Sofyan Amrabat, Yassin Ayoub, Zakaria Labyad; Richairo Zivkovic, Sébastien Haller (71. Nacer Barazite).

Line-up sc Heerenveen:
Erwin Mulder; Stefano Marzo, Doke Schmidt (75. Luciano Slagveer), Kik Pierie, Lucas Bijker; Stijn Schaars, Morten Thorsby, Pelle van Amersfoort (45. Yuki Kobayashi); Martin Ødegaard, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Sam Larsson (79. Arber Zeneli).