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Young prodigy Nestory Irankunda scored for the consecutive match in a row, as goalkeeper Paul Izzo produced a superb performance to lead the Socceroos to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Canada.

Match Overview

After a uneventful first half controlled by the hosts, the Socceroos improved with the arrival of late replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who scored the decider in the 71st minute.

Keeper Paul Izzo, selected ahead of skipper Maty Ryan, made multiple saves, including a world-class effort to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh-straight victory.

NESTORY IRANKUNDA PUTS US IN FRONT IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Highlights

• In the third minute, Tajon Buchanan charged into the box, but defender Alessandro Circati executed a perfectly timed challenge to clear the threat.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda dribbled past two opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose shot was deflected.
• Throughout the opening 45 minutes, the Australians struggled to maintain the ball, with Buchanan causing problems on the wing.
• Even with pressure from Canada, the disciplined Australian defense held firm, restricting opportunities before the halftime.

Second Half Improvement

Early into the second period, Irankunda went on a wonderful dribble, evading Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the near post, where Mohamed Toure missed his attempt.

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

Later, Miller sent in a lovely cross to Yazbek, who backheeled toward Circati, but the captain shot high.

During the 70th minute, following a scramble in the box, the Socceroos cleared the danger.

Winning Moment

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

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

Final Action

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

Tempers flared in injury-time, leading to Irankunda getting a yellow card and being substituted amid a scuffle.

During a heated final few minutes, the Socceroos backline and Izzo stood their ground to seal the win.

Next Steps

With now qualified for the next global tournament, the Socceroos are ramping up their readiness with warm-up matches against North American opponents and the USA, with a fixture scheduled in Colorado next.