Porto game abandoned after stand began to collapse

Floods of travelling supporters were forced to evacuate a stand as Porto's Primeira Liga clash at Estoril was abandoned.The home side led 1-0 at half time, but as the respective managers delivered their mid-game team talks, a section of the away fans were ordered by security to exit the stand and make their way onto the pitch, according to Scottish outlet the Daily Record.The decision was taken as the guards on duty deemed the stand unsafe after fans reported seeing cement blocks falling down as they exited the toilets, with cracks also appearing on the walls.Security staff feared a collapse could be imminent and so executed an evacuation of the stand.As fans flooded onto the pitch of the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota, with the stand in question only being constructed recently, the game was naturally delayed, and subsequently brought to a halt.Approximately 2,500 Porto fans had made the trip to Estoril as Porto looked to reclaim top spot of the Primeira Liga from Sporting.While the game's issues began to unfold, Porto made a statement via their official Twitter account.The first statement read: 'For problems in the structure of a bench of the stadium, the fans were evacuated to the lawn, by indication of the security forces.Part 2 has not yet begun.' And shortly after, they wrote: 'Game suspended following problems in the structure of a bench of the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota.' While investigations into the stand's safety are inevitable, Estoril are due to return to their home ground for successive league clashes on January 30 and February 4.