Football Ferns match suspended due to lightning

Canada goalie Erin McLeod, center front, waves as she leads teammates around the stadium after defeating China in FIFA Women's World Cup. Photo / AP.

A lightning storm has suspended the Football Ferns' second match of the Women's World Cup against Canada today.

After just five minutes of play, with the game scoreless, two flashes of lightning forced the players off the field at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.

Around 30,000 fans have packed into the uncovered stadium to watch the match and they have been instructed to move to the concourse.

The Ferns lost their opening match of the World Cup against the Netherlands 1-0 while Canada beat China 1-0.

The sun is poking through but we understand that play cannot be restarted within 30 minutes of leaving the field for lightening. We wait.

— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) June 12, 2015