Lightning struck the top of One World Trade Centre in Manhattan not once but twice on Monday night, forcing ITV to abandon their outdoor studio during live coverage of Sweden's emphatic 5-1 World Cup win over Tunisia.
Presenter Semra Hunter broke the news to viewers after an advert break, saying: “Speaking of dramatic scenes, if that wasn’t dramatic enough for you, take a look at this. Lightning strikes the top of One World Trade Centre right here in Manhattan, not once but twice! Because of that, we’ve had to come inside!”
“ITV fled studio after lightning struck One World Trade Centre twice during Sweden's 5-1 World Cup win over Tunisia.”
Pundit Jobi McAnuff added: “We are quite brave at the best of times, but I think after seeing that it is best to run for cover and be safe in here.” The ITV team made it inside safely with no damage done.
The meteorological drama came shortly after Sweden had provided a footballing storm of their own in Monterrey, Mexico, thrashing Tunisia to begin their Group F campaign in dominant fashion.
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres were at the heart of Graham Potter's side's performance. Brighton's Yasin Ayari scored the pick of the goals with two stunning long-range strikes, opening the scoring in the sixth minute and then rounding off the rout in the 96th minute.
Isak doubled the lead in the 40th minute after Gyokeres laid the ball off to the former Newcastle United man near the halfway line. Isak drove forward, cut in on his right foot and slotted into the bottom right corner.
Tunisia pulled one back through Omar Rekin's glancing header in the 43rd minute, sparking hopes of a comeback. But Gyokeres restored the two-goal lead in the 59th minute after Isak turned provider.
Substitute Mattias Svanberg then swept a fourth into the net just 18 seconds after coming on. The offside flag initially went up, but a lengthy VAR review revealed a slight touch from Isak meant the midfielder had returned to an onside position. Ayari's second stunner completed the scoring.
The 5-1 victory leaves Sweden top of Group F after the Netherlands and Japan played out a 2-2 draw in Dallas.