Ghanaian defender Nana Akwasi-Asare scored on Thursday night to hand FC Utrecht the advantage in their Dutch League Europa play-off with a 3-1 victory over FC Groningen.
Left-back Asare added the second goal for Utrecht in the 23rd minute with a shot from the right high inside the net.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel had opened the scoring a minute earlier.
Tim Matavz pulled one back five minutes before the break, but Andreas Granqvist put through his own net to deal Groningen a sucker punch in the last minute.
The second leg will be played on Sunday.