Canada’s defense carries them to a 1-0 win over Cameroon in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It wasn’t vintage, but Canada held on to get the job done in a 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the 2019 Women’s World Cup on Monday.

Courtesy of a first-half goal from Kadeisha Buchanan, the Canadians withstood a physically astute and athletic Cameroonian side to claim the win from Monday’s match and go top of the lead in Group E.

A strong 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.