Aya Sameshima and Yuika Sugasawa were on target and defending champion Nadeshiko Japan withstood intense late pressure to secure a place in the second round at the Women's World Cup on Friday with a 2-1 win over Cameroon in their second Group C match in Vancouver.
Sameshima and Sugasawa put Japan 2-0 up after 17 minutes, but Cameroon enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half and a late goal from Ajara Nchout set up a tense finish to the game.
Japan tops the group with six points, three ahead of Cameroon and Switzerland. Ecuador, Japan's final group-stage opponent on Tuesday, is in last without a point.