Intro:

Heerenveen maintained their Dutch Eredivisie challenge for a UEFA Europa League place with a 2-0 win at Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday (12th April).

Script:

The top-three placings in the Eredivisie appear relatively settled.

But Heerenveen are one of three teams involved in the battle for fourth - the last automatic Europa League qualifying berth.

Marco van Basten's side had no major problems in subduing a spirited Go Ahead Eagles side on Saturday, even with the help of Eagles goalkeeper Stephan Andersen throwing the ball to an attacker.

The first goal arrived in the 36th minute, via the head of Joost van Aken.

The home side threatened but found Kristoffer Nordfeldt in good form.

Goal number two was goal number 27 of the season for the Eredivisie's top hot-shot, Alfred Finnbogason.

The Icelandic international is already a target for several big clubs outside of the Netherlands, and may well be off in the summer.

Marnix Kolder came close to clawing a goal back for the Eagles, but 2-0 was the way it finished.

As a result, van Basten's men close the gap on both fourth-placed Vitesse Arnhem and PSV Eindhoven in fifth.

Both those sides suffered defeats over the weekend.