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Emerging sensation Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the second match in a row, as shot-stopper Paul Izzo put in a superb performance to lead the Australian national team to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Canada.

Fixture Breakdown

After a dull opening period controlled by the hosts, the Australian side found their rhythm with the introduction of late substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who scored the decider in the 71st minute.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, selected ahead of skipper Maty Ryan, produced key stops, featuring a world-class intervention to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the 90th minute, ensuring Australia's seventh consecutive victory.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA SCORES AUSTRALIA AHEAD IN MONTREAL! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Key Moments

• During the third minute, Tajon Buchanan charged into the penalty area, but captain Alessandro Circati executed a well-timed tackle to clear the danger.
• Shortly later, Irankunda beat two opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose attempt was deflected.
• During the first half, the Socceroos struggled to keep the ball, with Buchanan creating issues on the right flank.
• Even with dominance from Canada, the disciplined Australian defense held firm, restricting chances before the halftime.

Post-Interval Turnaround

Early into the second period, Irankunda went on a impressive dribble, evading Derek Cornelius and driving the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure missed his attempt.

Substitutions in the second half injected instant energy, with Irankunda pouncing on a poor pass and finding Toure, who fired off target.

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

In the closing stages, after a pinball situation in the defensive area, the Australians cleared the situation.

Winning Goal

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

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

Late Drama

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

Emotions flared in injury-time, leading to Irankunda getting a booking and taken off amid a fracas.

In a heated conclusion, the Australian defense and Izzo stood their ground to seal the win.

Next Steps

Having now secured a spot for the upcoming global tournament, the Socceroos are intensifying their readiness with friendlies against Canada and the USA, with a fixture set in Colorado next.