In a World Cup match that was delayed for over two hours due to thunder and lighting in the Philadelphia area, it was France star Kylian Mbappé that made it rain while the game was being played.
The France star scored twice -- once before and once after the weather delay -- as the 2018 World Cup champions cruised to an easy 3-0 win against an overmatched Iraq team.
The brace took Mbappe's total to four for this year's tournament, but perhaps more impressively it put him on 16 career World Cup goals -- level with Germany legend Miroslave Klose, whose all-time goals record was equalled and then broken by Lionel Messi over the course of Argentina's first two games.
All-time leader Messi, who scored twice in a win over Austria earlier on Monday, now sits alone at 18 with Mbappe -- 11 years his junior -- hot on his heels.
As the game approached halftime, the skies above Lincoln Financial Field opened up and soaked players and spectators. Shortly after players went to the dressing room for the break, FIFA announced that the match would be delayed at least 15 minutes.
That delay -- the first of the tournament -- ended up lasting over two hours, as a FIFA rule requires games to be paused and seating areas evacuated for 30 minutes if lightning is detected within eight miles. Each strike resets the clock.
There was also heavy rain ahead of Monday night's scheduled game between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but that game started on time.
Once back on the field after halftime, it was more of the same for France, with Ousmane Dembélé setting up Mbappe for his second before scoring France's third.
The result has France with six points from two games after beating Senegal 3-1 in their opener. Didier Deschamps side is assured of a spot in the knockout rounds, but their group-stage finale against Norway will likely decide who tops the group.
Information from AP was used in this report.
Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49147454/france-vs-iraq-delayed-amid-thunderstorms-philadelphia-world-cup