ÖFB Legionnaire Furkan Dursun out of Champions League race

For Swiss surprise champions FC Thun, hopes of a second appearance in the club's history in the UEFA Champions League end in the second qualifying round.

Dinamo Zagreb defeated FC Thun 3-2 after extra time in Tuesday's second leg. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, both clubs had chances of advancing.

Former Rapid player and ÖFB legionnaire Furkan Dursun was in the starting lineup for the Swiss champions.

Controversy over Red Card and Fair Play

Initially, everything went Thun's way at the start of the match: Brighton Labeau (4th) and Marco Bürki (22nd) quickly made it 2-0.

The scene that would turn the game occurred in the 67th minute: After a Swiss player remained on the ground, goalkeeper Steffen deliberately kicked the ball out of play. The throw-in was, as is customary in fair play, returned to the opponent by Dinamo. However, former LASK offensive player Lukas Kacavenda ignored the fair play and immediately started pressing.

Thun defender Bürki recognized the situation too late and could only stop Kacavenda with a foul. After a VAR check, Bürki received a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

After that, Dinamo turned the game around thanks to their numerical superiority: Former Rapid striker Dion Beljo scored to pull one back in the 74th minute. Kacavenda, who had previously disregarded fair play, equalized at 2-2 in the 78th minute. Thun defended valiantly with a man down and managed to force extra time, but had to accept a 2-3 defeat in the 112th minute through a long-range goal from Moris Valincic.

"Maximally unfair"

Speaking to "SRF", FC Thun coach Gian-Luca Privatelli fumed after the match: "Before the red card, they were maximally unfair. They play the ball back to us and immediately start pressing. After that, it's not well played, but still. Is that not gentlemanlike? And then to give a red, even though Justin Roth is still so close. Here at home, he probably wouldn't give a red."

For the Swiss champions, the journey now continues in the third round of Europa League qualification. There they will face either Vikingur Reykjavik from Iceland or Hapoel Be’er Scheva from Israel.

Dinamo Zagreb will play in the next round of Champions League qualification against FK Kauno Žalgiris from Lithuania or Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands.