Thun Squanders Late Lead Against Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League Qualifier

FC Thun let a crucial victory slip away in the final minutes, drawing 1-1 with Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie. The Swiss champions held a 1-0 lead until the 86th minute, but a late equalizer from Dinamo's Miha Zajc means the tie remains wide open heading into the second leg.

Brighton Labeau had put Thun ahead in the first half, converting a cross from Fabio Fehr in front of a sold-out crowd of 9,000. Thun largely controlled the first half, creating several more chances against Dinamo goalkeeper Ivan Filipovic. However, the Croatian side came out stronger after halftime, dominating possession and testing Thun's goalkeeper Niklas Steffen multiple times.

Despite Steffen's efforts and strong defensive work from his teammates, Zajc found the breakthrough for Dinamo after a defensive misstep by Marc Gutbub. The goal had been coming, as Dinamo had applied significant pressure throughout the second half, narrowly missing the target on several occasions.

The 1-1 draw means both teams have a chance to advance in the next leg. A win for either FC Thun or Dinamo Zagreb will secure a spot in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Should Thun win, they would face either Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands or Kauno Zalgiris from Lithuania. A loss would see them drop into the Europa League qualifiers, where they would play Vikingur Reykjavik of Iceland or Hapoel Be'er Sheva from Israel.