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Young talent Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the consecutive match in a row, as shot-stopper Paul Izzo produced a stellar performance to guide the Australian national team to a narrow 1-0 result over Canada.

Match Overview

Following a slow first half dominated by the Canadian team, the Socceroos found their rhythm with the entry of second-half replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who scored the decider in the second half.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, selected in place of captain Maty Ryan, made several saves, featuring a brilliant effort to stop Jacob Shaffelburg in the 90th minute, securing Australia's seventh-straight win.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA PUTS US AHEAD IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Moments

• During the third minute, Tajon Buchanan burst into the box, but captain Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed challenge to avert the danger.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda beat two opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose attempt was blocked.
• Throughout the opening 45 minutes, the Australians found it difficult to maintain the ball, with Buchanan causing issues on the wing.
• Even with dominance from the hosts, the disciplined Australian backline held firm, restricting chances before the break.

Post-Interval Improvement

Two minutes into the second half, Irankunda went on a impressive run, beating Derek Cornelius and driving the ball toward the near post, where Mohamed Toure missed his attempt.

Changes in the second half injected immediate impact, with Irankunda pouncing on a deflected pass and finding Toure, who shot off target.

Soon after, Miller sent in a lovely ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper shot over the bar.

In the closing stages, following a pinball situation in the box, the Australians cleaned up the situation.

Decisive Moment

Moments later, Connor Metcalfe released Toure on the wing, and the forward cut the ball back into a dangerous zone.

When a Canadian defender hesitated, Irankunda slid in from the unmarked position to score his third international strike.

Final Action

Although failing to score a second goal, the Socceroos were saved by Izzo's last-minute heroics.

Emotions flared in stoppage time, resulting in Irankunda receiving a yellow card and being substituted amid a fracas.

In a heated conclusion, the Socceroos backline and Izzo stood their ground to seal the win.

Next Steps

Having now secured a spot for the upcoming World Cup, the Australian squad are intensifying their preparation with friendlies against North American opponents and the United States, with a fixture set in Colorado on Wednesday.