Ajax beats Heerenveen 2-1 in Dutch playoffs

Updated: May 3, 2008, 3:30 PM EST 5 comments

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Defender John Heitinga scored the winning goal in the 76th, six minutes after his blunder allowed Gerald Sibon to level for Heerenveen.

Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's pass set up Luis Suarez for the opening goal in the 61st.

The second leg is in Amsterdam on Monday.

FC Twente beat NAC Breda 3-0 on Tuesday in the other semifinal ahead of the return match on Saturday.

PSV Eindhoven has already secured a place in the Champions League by winning the league title. One more berth is available.

In the UEFA Cup playoffs, FC Groningen's Yevgeny Levchenko scored in the 90th to salvage a 2-2 draw against FC Utrecht.

Gregory Schaken and Robin Nelisse gave Utrecht a 2-0 halftime lead. Goran Lovre scored Groningen's other goal.

Both teams finished with 10 men after Utrecht defender Francis Dickoh and Lovre were dismissed.

Roda JC hosted NEC Nijmegen later Thursday.