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Young talent Nestory Irankunda scored for the second match in a row, as goalkeeper Paul Izzo delivered a stellar performance to lead the Australian national team to a narrow 1-0 win over Canada.

Game Breakdown

Following a slow opening period dominated by the Canadian team, the Australian side improved with the introduction 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 multiple stops, featuring a brilliant effort to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh-straight win.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA SCORES AUSTRALIA IN FRONT IN MONTREAL! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Key Moments

• In the early stages, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but captain Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed tackle to clear the threat.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda dribbled past two defenders and set up Max Balard, whose shot was deflected.
• Throughout the first half, the Australians found it difficult to keep possession, with Buchanan causing issues on the wing.
• Even with dominance from Canada, the disciplined Socceroos defense held firm, restricting chances before the halftime.

Second Half Improvement

Two minutes into the second period, Irankunda went on a impressive run, beating Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure scuffed his attempt.

Substitutions in the second half brought instant energy, with Irankunda capitalizing on a poor pass and finding Toure, who fired wide.

Soon after, Miller delivered a precise ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper shot high.

In the closing stages, following a scramble in the defensive area, the Australians cleared the situation.

Decisive Goal

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

When a opposition player hesitated, Irankunda slid in from the blind side to tap in his third goal.

Late Drama

Despite unable to add a second goal, the Socceroos were saved by Izzo's late saves.

Emotions boiled over in injury-time, leading to Irankunda receiving a booking and taken off amid a fracas.

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

Looking Ahead

Having already secured a spot for the next World Cup, the Australian squad are intensifying their readiness with warm-up matches against North American opponents and the USA, with a fixture set in Colorado on Wednesday.