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Young prodigy Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the second match in a row, as goalkeeper Paul Izzo put in a stellar display to lead the Australian national team to a tight 1-0 win over Canada.

Game Breakdown

After a dull opening period controlled by the Canadian team, the Socceroos improved with the arrival of late replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who broke the deadlock in the 71st minute.

Keeper Paul Izzo, selected ahead of captain Maty Ryan, made several stops, featuring a world-class intervention to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the 90th minute, securing Australia's seventh-straight victory.

NESTORY IRANKUNDA SCORES AUSTRALIA AHEAD IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Moments

• In the third minute, Tajon Buchanan burst into the box, but captain Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed challenge to avert the threat.
• Shortly later, Irankunda beat two defenders and set up Max Balard, whose attempt was blocked.
• During the opening 45 minutes, the Australians found it difficult to maintain the ball, with Buchanan creating issues on the wing.
• Even with dominance from Canada, the organized Australian backline held firm, limiting opportunities before the halftime.

Second Half Turnaround

Early into the second period, Irankunda embarked on a wonderful run, beating Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure scuffed his shot.

Substitutions in the second half brought instant energy, with Irankunda capitalizing on a deflected clearance and setting up Toure, who fired off target.

Soon after, Miller sent in a precise ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the captain blasted over the bar.

In the closing stages, following a scramble in the box, the Socceroos cleaned up the danger.

Winning Moment

Soon after, Connor Metcalfe sent Toure on the right, and the forward cut the ball back into a dangerous area.

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

Final Drama

Despite failing to score a another, the team were saved by Izzo's last-minute heroics.

Tempers boiled over in stoppage time, resulting in Irankunda getting a yellow card and taken off amid a fracas.

During a heated final few minutes, the Socceroos defense and Izzo held firm to secure the result.

Looking Ahead

Having already qualified for the next global tournament, the Socceroos are ramping up their preparation with warm-up matches against North American opponents and the United States, with a fixture scheduled in Colorado on Wednesday.