A season which promised so much and delivered so little could yet end in Champions League qualification for AZ Alkmaar after they made it through to the play-off final for Europe's premier competition with a 3-1 aggregate win over FC Twente.

The regular season proved an anti-climax for Louis van Gaal's side as they lost out on the league title on the last day and then went down on penalties in the Dutch Cup final, but second-half goals from Tim de Cler and Jeremain Lens gave them a 2-0 second leg victory on Sunday.

AZ finished the regular season one place and six points above their opponents and the extra class told as they set up a mouth-watering repeat of the Dutch Cup final against Ajax.

Holding the advantage going into this game after scoring an away goal in the 1-1 first leg draw, the hosts almost went ahead on two minutes when Simon Cziommer was sent clear and forced a fine save from Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker.

The visitors could have taken the lead just after the half hour. Jeroen Heubach found Orlando Engelaar on the edge of the box and his shot flew just past the left post.

Heubach was in the thick of the action again on 37 minutes, setting up the unmarked Blaise N'Kufo 12 yards out, but the striker could only shoot straight at AZ stopper Boy Waterman.

Waterman denied N'Kufo again five minutes later, keeping out his header from eight yards with his feet.

And N'Kuffo perhaps realised it was not going to be his day on 57 minutes when El Ahmadi's right-wing cross picked him out on the edge of the six yard box and he completely missed the ball with the goal gaping.

AZ made their opponents pay for not taking their chances with 16 minutes remaining, de Cler collecting the ball 25 yards from goal before driving into the left corner.

Substitute Lens sealed the win in the 89th minute, pouncing on some poor defending by Niels Wellenberg and firing a low shot into the bottom corner.