Canada vs. Cameroon results: Buchanan header the difference as Canadians take Group E opener

Rudi Schuller

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Canada vs. Cameroon results: Buchanan header the difference as Canadians take Group E opener image

It wasn't pretty, but Canada got the job done in a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the 2019 Women's World Cup on Monday.

Powered by a first-half goal from Kadeisha Buchanan, the Canadians withstood a physical and athletic Cameroonian side to claim all three points from Monday's match and jump into the lead of Group E. The group's other two teams, New Zealand and Netherlands, will play their first match Tuesday.

MORE: How to watch, live stream FIFA Women's World Cup 2019

A spirited start by the Cameroonians forced Canada to use the entire width of the field in order to create chances, and the Canadians responded in kind by pushing their fullbacks high and attacking the flanks. Despite creating several open-play chances from out wide, it was a set piece in which Buchanan was able to find the game's only goal just before the halftime break.

The second half saw a composed Canadian team absorb increasing pressure from Cameroon, with Canada nearly scoring on another couple of occasions in the final moments, but Buchanan's goal ultimately stood as the winner.

Sporting News is tracked live updates and highlights from Monday's 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup match. Check out how it all went down:

Canada 1, Cameroon 0: Updates, highlights from 2019 Women's World Cup match

First half

0:00 - Kick-off! Canada's World Cup journey is underway!

1:15 - Canada already earns a corner. Beckie sends it in, Cameroon clears but Lawrence is fouled trying to carry it back into the 18-yard box.

2:27 - Free kick swung in toward Sinclair, who heads it wide. But it took a slight deflection and Canada gets another corner.

3:00 - Beckie's corner finds Sinclair, but it's a little high for her and she heads it out.

4:37 - Cameroon earns its first corner.

5:22 - It's a decent delivery, but the Canadians handle the corner.

6:05 - Cameroon's Nchout is down after a heavy challenge by Canada's Schmidt. The Cameroonians are playing unafraid despite the experience disparity.

9:35 - Beckie floats in a free kick after Chapman was fouled 25 yards from goal, but the ball is easily gathered by the goalkeeper.

12:40 - A decent build-up by Canada starts with Lawrence and Prince combining down the right flank. The ball eventually finds Beckie, whose 15-yard shot skips wide.

15:28 - Schmidt gets a weak header on target after a nice lob into space from Sinclair. Canada is knocking on the door ovrer the past few minutes.

17:15 - Beckie sends in a long cross, but Ngo Ndom grabs it. The Cameroon GK immediately boots it long, forcing a 1v1 between Buchana and Nchout, with thre Cameroon forward eventually committing a foul.

20:35 - All 11 Cameroon players are behind the ball as Canada strokes it side to side trying to find a way through.

22:20 - Lawrence sends a long ball to Sinclair to chase, but it's JUST beyond the Canadian forward. 

23:20 - Some fancy footwork by Prince forces Cameroon into conceding a corner.

23:53 - Buchanan nods the corner into the box, but it's easily cleared by Cameroon.

24:15 - Incredible ball down the right finds a wide open Beckie, who pauses and finds Buchanan at the top of the six-yard box. The defender's touch pushes it over the bar, and we're still scoreless.

27:35 - Canada with 69 percent of the possession so far, which was expected.

29:21 - Buchanan covers a ton of ground to knock the ball away from a charging Onguéné inside the Canadian penalty area. Corner incoming.

30:11 - The ensuing corner is... not good.

33:02 - Cameroon with a decent spell of possession now. Canada has been forced to defend for several minutes.

36:39 - Rain is coming down now in Montpellier. We've already seen some players slipping so this might be something to keep an eye on.

37:00 - Yellow card to Ngo Ndoumbouk for a hard tackle on Scott.

39:20 - A needlessly complicated Canadian corner is defended well by Cameroon.

40:45 - Stout defending by Cameroon's Johnson on Prince stops an attack down the right.

42:35 - POST! A great run by Chapman leads to a shot by Prince that's defelcted off the woodwork. Canada within inches of breaking the deadlock.

44:30 - ⚽️ GOAL ⚽️ Buchanan engages on a late run on a corner and nods the ball down off the ground. It bounces high into the netting, and Canada leads. Canada 1, Cameroon 0.  

45:00 + 2 - The whistle blows for halftime.

Second half

45:00 - And the final 45 is underway.

50:52 - Sinclair stepping up for a direct free kick...

51:18 - The free kick hits the wall. Sinclair didn't get under the ball enough and it hits a Cameroon player in the midsection.

55:23 - Buchanan and Onguéné come together for a 50-50 challenge, but the referee has judged it to be a foul against the Canadian.

59:02 - Just wide! Prince gathers a nice lobbed ball into the Cameroon box and on her second touch she puts it over the 'keeper, but inches past the post.

64:00 - Canada's controlling play pretty well over the last few minutes.

66:00 - Double change for Cameroon as the African side goes for it. Akaba is in for Nchout, and the Cameroonians will wait to make the next one.

67:00 - Enganamouit now subs in for Ngo Ndoumbouk. Not sure why Cameroon didn't make those subs at the same time.

69:30 - CLOSE! Cameroon defender Meffometou makes an identical run to the back post as Buchanan did on Canad's goal, but her header bounces just wide. 

73:55 - Yellow card shown to Enganamouit for an elbow to the face of Beckie. Things are getting scrappy.

74:30 - Canada makes its first substitution now, with Rose coming in for Prince. A like-for-like move, although Rose is a bit trickier (and with a bit less pace).

77:33 - Rose swings in a nice, pacey cross that Sinclair redirects with her head, but it's well wide.

81:13 - Labbe comes out to punch a lobbed free kick into the Canadians' box, but the Cameroonians were offside anyway. Better safe than sorry.

81:50 - Cameroon makes its final substituion: Meyong on for Yango.

86:33 - Beckie lets one fly from the top of the box after a good movement by Canada. The effort is well wide, however.

87:17 - Rose finds Sinclair at the top of the box now, and the captain's shot is blocked and rolls out for a corner.

88:00 - CLOSE! Sinclair nearly pokes one in from close after the corner kick, but the ball bounces agonizingly across the goalmouth. Zadorsky throws her body at the ball but a Cameroon defender beats her to it.

90:00 + 1 - Beckie hits a volley from distance but it's straight at the 'keeper.

90:00 + 3 - That's it! Canada takes the opener!

Rudi Schuller