10 Craziest On Pitch Moments From World Class Footballers
6. Stefan Kieling's Phantom Goal
Leverkusen were 1-0 up in the 68th minute against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. A Bayer corner came in from the left, Stefan Kiessling came across his man but his header hit the side-netting. He then turned around, hands on his head in disappointment. But his team-mates and a large portion of the away fans were cheering. Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Koen Casteels was picking the ball out of the net. The referee, Felix Brych, had awarded a goal. Replays showed that the ball had indeed hit the side-netting but at the very spot where a string had come loose. So it went in from the outside. Kiessling sheepishly celebrated, knowing fine well he had not scored a 'real' goal. Brych was later called over to inspect the faulty net but the goal stood and the match was not replayed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3CLrTOcDa0
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
