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Promising sensation Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the consecutive game in a row, as shot-stopper Paul Izzo produced a stellar display to lead the Australian national team to a tight 1-0 victory over Canada.

Match Breakdown

Following a slow first half dominated by the Canadian team, the Australian side came to life with the entry of late substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who broke the deadlock in the 71st minute.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, selected in place of skipper Maty Ryan, made key stops, including a brilliant intervention to stop Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, securing Australia's seventh consecutive victory.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA SCORES US IN FRONT IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Highlights

• During the early stages, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but defender Alessandro Circati made a well-timed tackle to clear the threat.
• Shortly later, Irankunda beat multiple opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose shot was deflected.
• During the opening 45 minutes, the Australians struggled to maintain the ball, with Buchanan creating issues on the wing.
• Even with dominance from Canada, the organized Socceroos backline stood strong, restricting chances before the halftime.

Post-Interval Turnaround

Two minutes into the second half, Irankunda embarked on a impressive run, beating Derek Cornelius and driving the ball toward the near post, where Mohamed Toure scuffed his shot.

Substitutions in the second half injected instant impact, with Irankunda pouncing on a deflected clearance and finding Toure, who fired off target.

Soon after, Miller sent in a lovely cross to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper shot high.

During the 70th minute, following a pinball situation in the defensive area, the Socceroos cleared the danger.

Winning Goal

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

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

Late Drama

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

Tempers boiled over in injury-time, resulting in Irankunda receiving a booking and being substituted amid a scuffle.

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

Looking Ahead

Having now secured a spot for the upcoming World Cup, the Australian squad are intensifying their preparation with friendlies against North American opponents and the United States, with a fixture set in Colorado on Wednesday.