A GERMAN Cup quarter-final was halted after an incredible wall of smoke from ultras left the pitch INVISIBLE from the stands.
Koln posted a photo of the extreme scene from their tie at Bayer Leverkusen and added: “The game has just been interrupted. You can see why.”
This post from Koln’s media team made the situation clear
GettyLeverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba prepared for the tie in bizarre conditions[/caption]
GettyThe situation was already murky when Leverkusen warmed up[/caption]
Players had warmed up in ominous conditions – with a blanket of smoke already descending across the pitch.
And after just 13 minutes of action referee Frank Willenborg bowed to the inevitable by suspending play.
The smoke was so thick by then that many spectators could not even see the pitch.
One fan said: “Everything is shrouded in thick fog” – which looked an understatement.
And another observer blamed pyrotechnics from offending supporters as he blasted their “totally stupid” behaviour.
A third supporter reckoned the game “should be cancelled” due to the offenders.
Play eventually resumed – with Damion Downs then slotting the opener for Koln TEN MINUTES into the 11 minutes of first-half stoppage time.
That left the visitors dreaming of a major upset.
Koln are two points clear of Hamburg in the German second tier.
But Leverkusen are behind only Bayern Munich in the top tier, having won the Bundesliga for the first time ever last season.
Linton Main doubled Koln’s lead early in the second period.
This time USA Under-23 striker Downs was the supplier following a swift counter-attack.
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