Twente stand firm to frustrate Ajax

FC Twente have qualified for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round by holding AFC Ajax to a goalless draw in the second leg of their play-off at the Amsterdam ArenA on Sunday afternoon.

First-leg advantage
Twente had won the first meeting of the sides 2-1 and the stalement contrived to send Fred Rutten's side, who finished fourth in the Eredivisie, into Europe's premier cup competition and denied Ajax a third successive play-off win. In the first half, the hosts' Luis Suárez went close to opening the scoring but his attempt just flew wide while the visitors saw Stein Huysegems' shot saved by goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Hersi influence
Ajax could not break the resistance after the break and Twente were actually the more dangerous, with Youssouf Hersi twice going close and also sending a header narrowly over. Goalkeeper Sander Boschker then became the Twente hero by saving an attempt from Rasmus Lindgren deep into injury time, ensuring the Enschede side will start their UEFA Champions League campaign in the third qualifying round next season, while Ajax will participate in the UEFA Cup.

Nijmegen joy
NEC Nijmegen will join the Amsterdam club in that competition as they won the other play-off match against NAC Breda. The tie was effectively over after a 6-0 first-leg win for Nijmegen, but they wrapped up a comfortable success with a 1-0 win in Breda courtesy of a goal from Jeremain Lens. Champions PSV Eindhoven qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage, Feyenoord reached the UEFA Cup by winning the Dutch Cup while SC Heerenveen also earned a UEFA Cup berth through the play-offs.