With a brilliant and inspired performance in the second half, Dinamo overcame their first-half deficit, and in the additional 30 minutes of extra time scored the third winning goal for a complete comeback! In the second leg of the Champions League 2nd qualifying round, the Blues defeated Swiss side Thun 3:2 and thus, following the 1:1 draw from the first match in Switzerland, secured their place in the next round where they await the winner of the match between KI Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands and Lithuanian Kauno Žalgiris.

Mario Kovačević's team scored two goals in the final 16 minutes of regular time to cancel out the visitors' lead, who had taken control with fierce and aggressive play from the opening, scoring twice in the 4th and 22nd minutes.

With this dramatic comeback, in a true sporting drama, Dinamo recorded their "milestone" 100th victory at Maksimir Stadium in the history of European club competitions. This was also Dinamo's first victory against a Swiss opponent at Maksimir Stadium.

The visitors played with ten men from the 67th minute after captain Marco Bürki was sent off for fouling Lukas Kačavenda when he had a clear path to goal. Dinamo fought back to level through Dion Drena Beljo in the 74th minute and Kačavenda in the 79th minute, while in extra time Moris Valančić decided the match with a masterful strike: he ran half the length of the pitch before powerfully driving the ball into the net from 20 meters for 3:2. And thus scored his first goal for Dinamo!

The Zagreb side have thus secured an autumn in the league phase of one of UEFA's competitions. To reach the Champions League, they will need to overcome two more opponents, to enter the Europa League at least one, and in case opponents prove better on both occasions, Dinamo will play in the Conference League.

At the very start of the match, the Maksimir faithful gave a special welcome to returning player Mislav Oršić, for whom this was his first appearance before the home crowd after three and a half years.

The visitors took the lead as early as the 4th minute, intercepting the ball in midfield. Brighton Labeau played a short pass to Nils Reichmuth, who passed right to Nassim Zoukit, who curled a low cross through the penalty area. There at the "far post" was the instigator of this move, Labeau, who scored for the lead.

Shortly after, Bruno Goda found Beljo, who battled with the opposing "heavyweights" in the penalty area, managed to pass the ball to Gabriel Vidović, who had his back to goal... He then laid it off to Mihi Zajc, who sent it over the goal.

The Swiss then increased their lead in the 22nd minute. Fabio Fehr delivered a free kick from about thirty meters on the right, curling it to the "far post" where captain Bürki was highest in the jump and headed the ball diagonally with a lob into the goal.

Zajc played a low pass to the right for Valančić in the 35th minute, who dribbled past his marker and shot with his left foot from 15 meters, but the ball went wide of the near post. Three minutes later Labeau stole the ball in Dinamo's half, raced toward the penalty area, played right to Reichmuth who had an open path, but goalkeeper Ivan Filipović prevented another goal from the visitors.

In the closing stages of the first half, Zajc delivered a corner, Beljo connected with his head at the "far post", but the ball bounced off the ground and over the goal.

The visitors played with ten men from the 67th minute. It was the period of Dinamo's pressure. Kačavenda won the ball in a high press on the right wing, rushed diagonally toward goal, but was fouled by Bürki just outside the penalty area. The referee initially showed the Swiss captain a yellow card, but after a VAR review changed it to red.

Seven minutes later the Maksimir stands erupted. Dinamo's attack lasted a long time, Valančić charged from the right, dribbled past his marker, crossed in front of goal, and Beljo headed the ball which then deflected off his chest into the goal.

The complete comeback came in the 79th minute: Fran Topić delivered a corner, the ball changed direction slightly in the scramble before Kačavenda headed it into the goal.

Dinamo went full force for the win. Topić made a brilliant move in the 84th minute, a lightning turn from 17 meters, slightly from the right, hitting the near post. Four minutes later Matteo Perez Vinlöf shot sharply, Zajc deflected the ball toward the crossbar, but goalkeeper Niklas Steffen managed to save with a fine stop.

In the closing minutes Josip Mišić also shot just over the goal, after which Arbër Hoxha fired powerfully, but the goalkeeper made another brilliant save.

Extra time followed, Dinamo continued their attacks, but the visitors threatened on the counter in the 97th minute when Lucien Dähler from the left sent the ball just wide from eight meters.

The Swiss goalkeeper saved his team again with another smart reaction in the 111th minute. Mišić played to Zajc, who shot from 15 meters straight at the crossbar, but Steffen pushed it away at the last moment.

But that was just a preview of the Blues' winning goal. Already in the next minute came Valančić's masterpiece: Mišić passed him the ball short in his own half, and Dinamo's defender made an unstoppable run through half the pitch and powerfully struck from 20 meters for the 100th European victory for the Blues at Maksimir.

In the actual stoppage time, Stjepan Radeljić made his debut for Dinamo, coming off the bench and nearly marking his premiere with a goal. When the Swiss had moved forward to Dinamo's goal, their goalkeeper came out almost to the center, Radeljić picked up the ball and shot at the empty goal from his own half, but the ball went wide of the target.

Zagreb, 28 July 2024

UEFA Champions League, 2nd qualifying round, second leg

Dinamo – Thun 3:2

(first leg: Thun – Dinamo 1:1)

Stadion Maksimir

Dinamo: Filipović – Valančić, Dominguez (91. Galešić), McKenna, Goda (46. Perez Vinlöf) – Mišić (120+2. Radeljić); Lisica (58. Topić), Vidović (58. Kačavenda), Zajc, Oršić (58. Hoxha) – Beljo

Coach: Mario Kovačević

Thun: Steffen – Fehr (106. Ibayi), Bamert, Bürki, Heule – Reichmuth (77. Dähler), Roth (116. Stewart), Zoukit (58. Maier), Matoshi – Dursun (46. Gutbub), Labeau (68. Bürgy)

Coach: Gian-Luca Privitelli

Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria), Attendance: 17,092

Red card: Bürki (Thun, 67. - foul)

Goalscorers: 0:1 Labeau (4.), 0:2 Bürki (23.), 1:2 Beljo (74.), 2:2 Kačavenda (79.), 3:2 Valančić (112.)