Utrecht took a commanding 3-1 first-leg lead last night and will be strongly fancied to advance to the Eredivisie Europa League play-off final ahead of FC Groningen. But after Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Nana Asare and an own goal from Andreas Granqvist sealed victory in the home leg, Du Chatinier is cautious ahead of the decisive second leg on Sunday. "Fortunately, in the first leg we won 3-1, but we are not there yet," he said. "Sunday will be difficult, but I hope we can now go further in the play-offs at the expense of FC Groningen." Tim Matavz was on target for Groningen, who appear set to lose Fredrik Stenman, Oluwafemi Ajilore and Goran Lovre for the second leg after they were forced off injured. Lovre suffered a fractured cheekbone. Coach Ron Jans said: "It looked seriously out. Goran's eye was completely closed." Jans knows his side's chances have diminished following the first-leg defeat, but hopes to overcome the odds. "For this competition I estimated our chances at 50-50," he added. "Now we have lost 3-1, it is less. "But we are certainly not out of the race, we will still fight." The winners of the clash will meet either Roda JC or Heracles Almelo, whose tie is finely poised ahead of the second leg. Roda were held to a 1-1 first-leg draw at home as Bas Dost struck a 77th-minute equaliser. Dost's effort cancelled out Mads Junker's first-half opener for the hosts. Heracles coach Gertjan Verbeek, who will move to AZ Alkmaar at the end of the season, said: "The 1-1 is good but we are not there yet."
