The final score may have been a little closer than most would have expected, but Canada is off on the right foot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Canada scored a 1-0 win over 46th-ranked Cameroon in their tournament-opener in Montpellier on Monday.
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Despite the close score-line, Canada dominated the match, carrying 65% of possession and outshooting Cameroon 16-5.
Thoughts on the match? #CANCMR | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/nczHyzLUms
â FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 10, 2019
The only goal for the fifth-ranked Canadians came from fullback Kadeisha Buchanan, who headed home a Janine Beckie corner just before halftime. Buchanan was named the Player of the Match following the game.
GOAL #CAN
Kadeisha Buchanan scores Canada's first goal of the #FIFAWWC @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/FczJvSRevN
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 10, 2019
Naturally, the Toronto native gave a basketball celebration – presumably in honour of the Raptors.
Kadeisha Buchanan brought out the basketball celebration after scoring Canada's first goal at the #FIFAWWC@Raptors @CanadaSoccerEN pic.twitter.com/0MncmsqZyv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 10, 2019
Much of the talk entering the match was about Christine Sinclair, who is chasing history. Sinclair didn’t score on Monday, though she did come close in the 88th minute.
#CAN with a great opportunity to double its lead, but they are denied.#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/eUsYScEHLb
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 10, 2019
Canada’s captain has 181 all-time international goals, trailing American Abby Wambach by just three.
The tests will only get more difficult from here, as Canada’s next game is against world No. 19 New Zealand on Saturday (12 pm PT / 3 pm ET on TSN).