Canadian soccer fans hoping for a 'good journey' to World Cup after qualifying win in Hamilton

Kaitlin Coward was just trying to make it back to her seat when she started running and screaming with joy. 

Minutes into the World Cup qualifying match in Hamilton, Team Canada scored its first goal against the U.S.

"We're already beating the States, that's a big deal," she said.

The Whitby, Ont., resident was among the 12,000 fans at Tim Hortons Field on a cold and windy Sunday to watch the match between the two national men's teams. 

It’s 1-0 Canada! <a href="https://t.co/x0tdkIPYrs">pic.twitter.com/x0tdkIPYrs</a>

Normally there would be twice as many fans there, but public health measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 capped the arena at half-capacity.

Dr. Dominik Mertz, an infectious diseases specialist with McMaster University in Hamilton, told CBC radio program Day 6  that outdoor events like the soccer game aren't as risky as indoor matches.

"It's a setting with a relatively good track record when you look internationally with soccer games or other outdoor games," he said.

The potential risk didn't stop U.S. supporters Nick and TJ Cleavelin from travelling to Hamilton for the game. 

The two Texans were surrounded by a boisterous red and white sea of Canadian fans who drummed, screamed and chanted.

"We got some booing, some thumbs down, got a little heckling, but it was fun," TJ said.

The U.S. was down 1-0 at the end of the first half. They had a penalty kick in the final minutes of the second half that could've tied the game — but Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who grew up in Hamilton, made the save.

The crowd roared and didn't quiet down again.

With minutes left in the game, Canada scored to seal a 2-0 victory.

Some fans yanked off their shirts and started swinging them in the air, bare-chested