Football · Zagreb and Thun
FC Thun's Champions League dream ends in extra time after captain Bürki's red card sparks Dinamo Zagreb comeback
A 2-0 lead after 22 minutes evaporated when Swiss champions FC Thun had Marco Bürki sent off in the 67th minute, allowing Dinamo Zagreb to win 3-2 in extra time and advance 4-3 on aggregate in the second qualifying round.
AI text based on reports by Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Tages Anzeiger, 20 Minuten and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
Brighton Labeau scored in the 4th minute and Marco Bürki headed a second in the 22nd, giving Thun a 2-0 away lead.
Marco Bürki received a straight red card in the 67th minute for a last-man foul, with the VAR using only one camera angle due to transmission issues.
Dion Beljo (74') and Lukas Kacavenda (78') headed equalisers, both coming after the red card and leaving Dinamo back in the tie.
Moris Valincic struck a long-distance winner in the 112th minute, sealing a 3-2 win and a 4-3 aggregate victory for the Croatian Double winners.
The Swiss champions will now compete in the third Europa League qualifying round after their Champions League exit.
- 74'Dion Beljo pulls one back for Dinamo Zagreb
- 78'Lukas Kacavenda equalises for Dinamo
- 112'Moris Valincic scores the winner for Dinamo (3-2)
FC Thun came within 14 minutes of the third Champions League qualifying round, only for a red card to flip the tie and end their run 3-2 after extra time at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb.
Fast start silences the home crowd
The Swiss champions landed two early blows in a 20,000-capacity sold-out stadium that included a few hundred travelling fans. Brighton Labeau tapped in Nassim Zoukit's low cross from close range in the 4th minute. Captain Marco Bürki doubled the lead in the 22nd, heading Fabio Fehr's free kick past the Dinamo goalkeeper. The home side created little of note through the rest of the first half.
“Offenbar gibts nach massiven Problemen mit der Bild- und Tonleitung in Zagreb bloss eine einzige Kameraeinstellung, die dem VAR und dem Schiedsrichter zur Verfügung steht.”
The moment that turned the match
In the 67th minute, Bürki lost possession just outside his own penalty area and fouled an attacker in a promising position. The referee initially showed a yellow card but upgraded to a straight red after a VAR review, judging the tackle prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. The same VAR check used a single available camera angle because the broadcast feed from Zagreb was disrupted, leaving Swiss TV viewers briefly without pictures.
“Offenbar gibts nach massiven Problemen mit der Bild- und Tonleitung in Zagreb bloss eine einzige Kameraeinstellung, die dem VAR und dem Schiedsrichter zur Verfügung steht.”
Zagreb exploits the extra man
Dinamo levelled within 11 minutes. Top scorer Dion Beljo headed in the first goal in the 74th minute, and midfielder Lukas Kacavenda repeated the trick in the 78th, both beating a Thun defence that still had numbers back. The Swiss side held on through the final minutes of regulation to force extra time.
Extra time and the fatal strike
In the 112th minute, left-back Moris Valincic drove through midfield and unleashed a long-range effort that goalkeeper Niklas Steffen could not stop. The goal gave Dinamo a 4-3 aggregate victory and a place in the third qualifying round. Thun's only real effort in extra time was a wide shot from Michael Heule.
“Valincic marschiert durchs halbe Mittelfeld und knallt die Kugel dann mit Wucht in die Maschen.”
What comes next
Thun drop into the Europa League third qualifying round. Dinamo Zagreb continue their path toward the Champions League group stage.
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Sources and context
- Neue Zürcher ZeitungNach Verlängerung: Thun verpasst die Champions League knapp
- Tages AnzeigerThun schockt Dinamo Zagreb früh - dann fliegt Captain Bürki vom Platz und die Partie kippt
- 20 MinutenChampions-League-Traum des FC Thun platzt in Verlängerung nach Marco Bürkis Roter Karte
- SRF News2:3-Niederlage gegen Dinamo - Thuns Traum von der Champions League platzt in der Verlängerung
- Marco Bürki
- FC Thun captain and centre-back who scored the second goal and was sent off in the 67th minute.
- Brighton Labeau
- FC Thun forward who scored the opening goal in the 4th minute.
- Moris Valincic
- Dinamo Zagreb left-back who scored the winning goal in the 112th minute.
- Dion Beljo
- Dinamo Zagreb's top scorer who made it 2-1 in the 74th minute.
- Lukas Kacavenda
- Dinamo Zagreb midfielder who equalised in the 78th minute.
- Fabio Fehr
- FC Thun player who provided the free kick assist for Bürki's goal.
- Nassim Zoukit
- FC Thun new signing from Aarau who set up Labeau's opener.
- Niklas Steffen
- FC Thun goalkeeper who made several saves in extra time.
- Michael Heule
- FC Thun player with the team's only notable effort in extra time.
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