SAINTS keeper Maarten Stekelenburg is confident the team will progress to the next stage of the Europa League after opening up a 3-0 advantage in the first leg of their tie against Vitesse.

Ronald Koeman’s side were comfortable winners at St Mary’s last night, and now head to Arnhem next week for the conclusion of the third qualifying round contest.

Stekelenburg was a crucial figure in the result, making a one-on-one save from Milot Rashica when the score was 2-0, to deny Vitesse what could have been a vital away goal.

"It was on 2-0, I think, the save, so it would have been 2-1,” he said. “If the end result is 2-1, you get a difficult result there.

"Now, with 3-0, we should be okay."

Stekelenburg added: "I think the result is fantastic. The first 10, 15 minutes, we didn't control the game.

"After that, we took the initiative, scored a good goal and then a penalty. I think it was a penalty – I couldn't see from my angle, but there was not a lot of protests.

"I think after that we controlled the game and, in the second half, we needed to play more forward, but we didn't, so they got one big chance again.

"But I am happy with the clean sheet and the result."

Last night marked Saints’ return to European action after an absence of 12 seasons, and was also their first victory in continental competition in 34 years.

For everyone associated with the club, it was certainly a memorable evening at St Mary’s.

"I think everybody was looking forward to this moment,” said Stekelenburg.

" It was a long time ago and I think they saw a nice game, especially with the result."

But Stekelenburg added that Saints cannot look too far ahead yet.

"This is only the first round of qualification,” he said. “We had a fantastic in the first game, so we have to finish it in the second.

"Then we will see, you know, who we play against. We have to wait for the opponent."