PITTSBURGH – As the players left the field in the 18th minute with a major thunderstorm homing in on Highmark Stadium, there was little telling as to when – or even if – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and North Carolina FC would return to the field.

But while action wouldn’t resume for almost three hours, Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley was delighted by the numerous fans who saw out the storm and provided an energetic mood around the venue as the final 70-plus minutes played out well into the night on the banks of the Monongahela.

“This is one game where the night started glorious with Fourth of July and a packed house,” said Lilley. “My hats off to the fans who stayed, it was great to still have an atmosphere.”

Those fans were treated to a standout finish by Christiano Francois that paved the way to a 2-0 victory for the hosts that moved the Hounds within three points of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference standings after claiming their fourth win in the past five outings. The Haitian’s individual goal just before the halftime break saw him pick up possession 45 yards from goal on the left before gliding into the penalty area to unleash a powerful right-footed finish into the top-left corner gave Pittsburgh a major boost going into the official halftime break.