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Emerging prodigy Nestory Irankunda scored for the second fixture in a row, as shot-stopper Paul Izzo put in a stellar performance to lead the Socceroos to a tight 1-0 win over Canada.

Match Overview

After a dull opening period controlled by the hosts, the Socceroos found their rhythm with the arrival of late replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. Ultimately, Irankunda who broke the deadlock in the 71st minute.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, starting ahead of captain Maty Ryan, made several stops, including a world-class intervention to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh consecutive victory.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA PUTS US IN FRONT IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Actions

• In the third minute, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but defender Alessandro Circati executed a well-timed challenge to clear the danger.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda beat multiple defenders and set up Max Balard, whose attempt was deflected.
• During the opening 45 minutes, the Australians found it difficult to keep the ball, with Buchanan creating problems on the right flank.
• Even with pressure from Canada, the disciplined Socceroos defense stood strong, restricting opportunities before the halftime.

Second Half Shift

Early into the second half, Irankunda went on a impressive run, beating Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure missed his attempt.

Substitutions in the second half injected instant impact, with Irankunda capitalizing on a deflected pass and setting up Toure, who fired wide.

Later, Miller sent in a lovely cross to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper blasted high.

In the closing stages, after a pinball situation in the defensive area, the Australians cleaned up the danger.

Decisive Goal

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

As a opposition defender dithered, Irankunda sneaked in from the unmarked position to tap in his third strike.

Final Action

Although unable to score a second goal, the Socceroos were rescued by Izzo's late heroics.

Tempers flared in injury-time, leading to Irankunda receiving a booking and being substituted amid a fracas.

In a spiteful final few minutes, the Australian backline and Izzo stood their ground to seal the win.

Looking Ahead

Having already qualified for the upcoming World Cup, the Socceroos are intensifying their readiness with friendlies against North American opponents and the United States, with a fixture set in Colorado on Wednesday.