Goals in each half from Andreas Granqvist and Marcus Berg maintained FC Groningen's 100 per cent start to the season as they eased past FC Utrecht on Sunday.

Granqvist opened the scoring after 35 minutes with a splendid solo effort before Berg's header settled the game in the 61st minute.

The home side began brightly and nearly took the lead when Oluwaferni Ajilore's cross-field pass picked out Gonzalo Garcia, but the Spanish forward was unable to convert the chance.

Utrecht succeeded in frustrating Ron Jan's men until the 35th minute when Granqvist broke the deadlock.

The former Wigan defender picked up the ball and beat three defenders before drilling the ball past goalkeeper Michel Vorm from 12 yards.

Willem van Hanegem's half-time team talk invigorated the visitors who immediately searched for the equaliser. However, the change of tactics served only to provide Groningen with more space to exploit on the counter-attack.

This was illustrated in the 61st minute when Sepp De Roover beat Tim Cornelisse on the left wing and floated a deep cross to the far post for Berg to nod home.

Sander Keller had the best chance of the game for Utrecht with 16 minutes remaining, but he blazed his shot over the bar from a promising position.

The Euroborg outfit had further opportunities to score and could have added to their tally in the 82nd minute. Granvist's free-kick found Goran Lovre, who could only volley wide.