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Young talent Nestory Irankunda scored for the consecutive fixture in a row, as goalkeeper Paul Izzo delivered a superb performance to lead the Socceroos to a hard-fought 1-0 result over Canada.

Fixture Breakdown

After a slow opening period controlled by the Canadian team, the Australian side came to life with the entry of second-half replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who made the difference in the second half.

Keeper Paul Izzo, selected in place of captain Maty Ryan, produced key stops, including a spectacular effort to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh-straight victory.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA PUTS AUSTRALIA IN FRONT IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Moments

• During the third minute, Tajon Buchanan charged into the box, but captain Alessandro Circati made a well-timed challenge to clear the threat.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda beat multiple defenders and set up Max Balard, whose shot was deflected.
• Throughout the first half, the Australians found it difficult to maintain the ball, with Buchanan causing issues on the wing.
• Even with pressure from Canada, the disciplined Socceroos defense held firm, restricting chances before the break.

Post-Interval Improvement

Two minutes into the second period, Irankunda went on a impressive run, evading Derek Cornelius and driving the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure missed his shot.

Changes in the 57th minute brought instant impact, with Irankunda capitalizing on a deflected pass and setting up Toure, who shot wide.

Later, Miller sent in a precise ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper shot over the bar.

In the closing stages, after a scramble in the defensive area, the Socceroos cleaned up the situation.

Decisive Moment

Soon after, Connor Metcalfe released Toure on the wing, and the forward cut the ball back into a promising area.

When a Canadian player hesitated, Irankunda sneaked in from the unmarked position to tap in his third international strike.

Final Drama

Despite failing to add a second goal, the team were rescued by Izzo's last-minute saves.

Emotions boiled over in stoppage time, resulting in Irankunda receiving a booking and being substituted amid a fracas.

During a heated conclusion, the Socceroos defense and Izzo stood their ground to secure the win.

Looking Ahead

Having already qualified for the next global tournament, the Australian squad are intensifying their readiness with warm-up matches against North American opponents and the United States, with a game set in Colorado next.