FC Utrecht registered a far-than comfortable 3-1 victory over Valletta to progress into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

The Dutch will now take on either Lech Poznan of Poland or Norway's Haugesund in the next qualifying round.

Wary of Valletta’s threat, the hosts exerted pressure on their opponents from the initial minutes and on 18 minutes, they forged ahead.

Yassin Ayoub fled a cross from the right wing with Valletta clearing momentarily before Sean Klaiber came out of nowhere to blast a first-time volley which hit the base of the net.

Utrecht went close to double their lead on several occasions, but Simon Makienok failed to capitalize on them while Henry Bonello was forced to produce a couple of saves as well.

After the change of ends, the Maltese side were showing more character on the pitch but it was in their best period that the home side added a second.

It was a corner-kick on which skipper Willem Janssen connected with a towering header which fled past Bonello.

Utrecht sealed their qualification in the final minutes when Moroccan winger Zakaria Labyad hit a superlative shot from a tight angle to make it 3-0.

Late in the match, Santiago Malano pulled one back for Valletta to make the score a bit more respectable.