FC Utrecht booked their place in the Europa League as they romped to victory against 10-man Roda JC.
Van Wolfswinkel and Mulenga bag braces
FC Utrecht booked their place in the Europa League as they romped to victory against 10-man Roda JC in the second leg of their play-off clash.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Jacob Mulenga both scored twice as Ton du Chatinier's side cruised to a 4-1 success at Nieuw Golgewaard.
Already trailing 2-0 from the first leg on Thursday, Roda gave themselves brief hope when Mads Junker levelled in the first half, but Davy de Fauw's red card early in the second half put paid to fanciful thoughts of a stunning fightback.
Utrecht took just two minutes to further extend their advantage from the first leg when Van Wolfswinkel scuffed in his first of the day.
His strike partner Mulenga provided the cross and while Van Wolfswinkel did not strike his shot cleanly it still managed to evade Roda goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton and roll into the net.
Roda faced an uphill task needing three goals to have any hope of booking a European place, but pulled one back in the 21st minute.
Powerful
Boldiszar Bodar sent a left-wing cross into the area where an unmarked Junker was on hand to float his header over Michel Vorm.
Roda almost grabbed a second on the half hour when Jan Paul Saeijs fired narrowly wide from long range but they had to be content to go into the break at 1-1.
It took four minutes after the re-start for any lingering belief to be taken away.
Van Wolfswinkel scored his second with a powerful 47th-minute header after Barry Maguire's pinpoint cross and then two minutes later De Fauw was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Dries Mertens.
The game was up for Roda although their afternoon got worse with Tyton completely missing a Mertens cross on the hour to allow Mulenga to head in from close range.
Mertens was provider again after 71 minutes when he teed up Mulenga who lobbed the goalkeeper from 20 yards to sew up an impressive display.
