EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., (Reuters) -The Club World Cup clash between Al Ahly of Egypt and Brazil’s Palmeiras was halted after an hour’s play at the MetLife Stadium on Thursday because of an expected storm, the second time a match has been interrupted in the tournament due to the weather.

Referee Anthony Taylor told the teams to leave the pitch immediately after Palmeiras had taken a 2-0 lead in their Group A clash after advice from a pitchside official.

Repeated announcements over the stadium public address system told the public to leave their seats and take shelter inside the stadium concourse because of the threat of “severe weather” although fans were slow to move out.

The start of the Group F match in Orlando on Tuesday between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan of South Korea was delayed by 65 minutes because of the threat of lightning.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)