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SPORTSTICKER DUTCH EREDIVISIE SOCCER NOTE
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*Ajax, Groningen in control in Dutch Champions League playoffs*
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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Ticker) - Ajax Amsterdam and FC
Groningen need only keep their heads to book a place in the
playoff final for Holland's second Champions League berth.

Groningen will defend a 3-1 lead at Alkmaar against hosts AZ
while Ajax has a 3-0 cushion ahead of its trip to Rotterdam to
play arch-rivals Feyenoord.

However, Ajax coach Danny Blind has warned his troops not to
consider they have already qualified for the final.

"We have a good result now, but it's not over yet," he said.
"We must play our own game and not let their players dictate the
game."

Blind must do without Steven Pienaar whose three-match
suspension after being sent off in the first leg will also rule
him out of both legs of the final should Ajax get there.

Furthermore, Hatem Trabelsi (knee), Wesley Sneijder (hamstring)
and Zdenek Grygera (calf) are injured.

FC Twente took a clear advantage in its UEFA Cup playoff with FC
Utrecht by claiming a 2-0 win in the first leg.  Blaise N'Kufo
put the home side in front in the 11th minute before turning
provider for Patrick Gerritsen to score two minutes after the
restart and give Twente something to fight with in the return
leg.

Utrecht have home advantage for the deciding leg after finishing
sixth in the regular season while Twente finished ninth.

Heerenveen adopted a defensive approach in the other semifinal
game and held home side Roda JC to a goalless draw.  Heerenveen
hosts the second leg with the winner facing the Twente-Utrecht
winner for a place in the UEFA Cup.

NAC Breda has parted company with coach Cees Lok following
Friday goalless draw with TOP Oss in the Dutch relegation
playoffs.  Lok took over the reins in January after replacing
Ton Lokhoff, who was sacked with the team 13th in the standings.

However, the former NEC Nijmegen coach was unable to improve
NAC's fortunes and it ended the campaign 16th in the table,
meaning it must now battle for its Eredivisie future through the
relegation playoffs.

Assistant coach John Karelse has been put in charge following
Lok's departure and he is set to lead NAC in the remainder of it
relegation playoff battle.