Dinamo Draw at the Start of Champions League Qualifying

Dinamo Zagreb played out a 1-1 draw against Thun in Switzerland in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round. The hosts took the lead through a Brighton Labeau goal in the 20th minute, before Miha Zajc set the final score in the 86th minute. The tie will be decided in the return leg in Zagreb in a week.

Thun are the first of three potential opponents Dinamo must overcome to secure a place in the Champions League group stage. The second round is followed by the third round and then the play-off. Dinamo’s possible third-round opponent will be the winner of the tie between KÍ Klaksvík of the Faroe Islands and Lithuania’s Kauno Žalgiris. Should they fall to Thun, Dinamo would continue their European campaign in the Europa League third qualifying round against the loser of the tie between Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Vikingur.

After a quiet start, the Swiss side took the lead in the 20th minute. Fabio Fehr’s cross from the right caught goalkeeper Ivan Filipović out, and Brighton Labeau headed home to make it 1-0. Just a minute earlier, Filipović had misjudged a free-kick delivery but redeemed himself by saving two efforts from the home side.

Dinamo almost leveled quickly, but Dion Drena Beljo’s effort in the 22nd minute went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Niklas Steffen. The Thun keeper also did well to save a fine long-range attempt from Moris Valinčić in the 28th minute. Thun’s best chance to extend their lead came in the 30th minute, when Furkan Dursun found himself unmarked five metres out but headed wide of the post.

Dinamo created a few more openings before halftime, but efforts from Miha Zajc and Gabriel Vidović fell short, and Thun led 1-0.

Dinamo continued to press after the restart. In the 53rd minute, Beljo’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by a home defender, and in the 65th minute a Mislav Oršić effort was again blocked on its way towards goal. Thun threatened on the counter, coming closest in the 73rd minute when Valmir Matoshi’s shot went narrowly wide.

Dinamo’s persistence paid off in the 86th minute. Fran Topić, on since the 79th minute, supplied the assist from the right for Miha Zajc, and the Slovenian midfielder finished first-time from 17 meters to make it 1-1. The score remained unchanged until the final whistle, leaving the tie to be settled in Zagreb.