Wilkshire and Holman in Dutch play-off success

Qantas Socceroo midfielders Luke Wilkshire and Brett Holman will come into the AFC World Cup qualifiers on an absolute high, after both were involved in play-off success overnight.

Qantas Socceroo midfielders Luke Wilkshire and Brett Holman will come into the AFC World Cup qualifiers on an absolute high, after both were involved in play-off success overnight.

Wilkshire and his FC Twente side created history when they drew 0-0 away at Ajax Amsterdam, to earn a place in next season-s Champions League, the first time in the club-s history to achieve this feet.

Leading 2-1 on aggregate after the first leg, most people expected Twente to capitulate at the Amsterdam Arena against the giant of Dutch football. However Twente looked in control for the majority of the game, as the home side failed to show anything meaningful in attack.

Wilkshire played a full game for Twente and capped a remarkable season for the Wollongong-born midfielder, who has been regular first team starter.

Holman-s NEC Nijmegen-s success at earning a place in next season-s UEFA Cup is even more astonishing, when you consider that with less than 10 games to go they were lurking just above the relegation zone.

But a run of eight wins in nine games saw NEC grab the last place in the UEFA Cup play-off-s.

After accounting for Roda JC in the first round of play-off-s, NEC faced NAC Breda, who were favourites to win through ahead of NEC.

But a first leg annihilation of NAC to the tune of 6-0, had NEC well in control of this tie and they wrapped it up with a 1-0 away win in the second leg and join Ajax, Feyenoord and Heerenveen in the UEFA Cup next season.

Holman played a full game for NEC.

Meanwhile, in Italy the final round was crucial for the likes of Zeljko Kalac and his AC Milan side, who needed a win and hope that Vince Grella-s Torino could grab a result against Fiorentina, to grab the fourth spot in next seasons Champions League.

AC Milan did their bit, with Kalac playing a full game, as they thrashed Udinese 4-1. However Torino, with Grella playing 82 minutes, lost 1-0 at home.

Mark Bresciano did not play in Palermo-s 2-2 draw away at Siena, due to injury, with speculation linking him with a move to West Ham in the off season.

Finally, Olyroo striker David Williams came on as a late substitute as Brondby recorded an upset 2-1 win over 2nd-placed FC Copenhagen.