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Emerging prodigy Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the second fixture in a row, as goalkeeper Paul Izzo put in a stellar display to guide the Australian national team to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Canada.

Match Summary

Following a dull opening period dominated by the hosts, the Socceroos came to life with the entry of second-half substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who scored the decider in the second half.

Keeper Paul Izzo, selected ahead of captain Maty Ryan, made key stops, including a world-class intervention to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh-straight victory.

NESTORY IRANKUNDA SCORES US AHEAD IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Actions

• During the early stages, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but defender 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 blocked.
• Throughout the first half, the Socceroos found it difficult to maintain possession, with Buchanan causing problems on the right flank.
• Even with pressure from Canada, the organized Socceroos defense held firm, restricting opportunities before the break.

Second Half Improvement

Early into the second period, Irankunda embarked on a impressive run, evading Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the near post, where Mohamed Toure scuffed his attempt.

Substitutions in the second half brought instant impact, with Irankunda capitalizing on a poor clearance and setting up Toure, who fired wide.

Later, Miller delivered a lovely ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the captain shot high.

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

Decisive Moment

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

When a opposition defender hesitated, Irankunda slid in from the unmarked position to tap in his third goal.

Final Action

Despite failing to add a another, the team were rescued by Izzo's late saves.

Tempers flared in stoppage time, leading to Irankunda receiving a booking and being substituted amid a scuffle.

During a spiteful final few minutes, the Australian backline and Izzo held firm to seal the win.

Looking Ahead

With now secured a spot for the upcoming global tournament, the Socceroos are ramping up their preparation with friendlies against North American opponents and the United States, with a fixture scheduled in Colorado on Wednesday.