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Promising prodigy Nestory Irankunda scored for the consecutive match in a row, while goalkeeper Paul Izzo put in a outstanding display to lead the Socceroos to a tight 1-0 win over Canada.

Match Overview

Following a dull first half dominated by the hosts, the Socceroos came to life with the entry of second-half substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. Ultimately, Irankunda who broke the deadlock in the second half.

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

NESTORY IRANKUNDA SCORES US IN FRONT IN MONTREAL! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Moments

• In the third minute, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but captain Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed tackle to avert the danger.
• Shortly later, Irankunda beat two defenders and passed to Max Balard, whose attempt was deflected.
• Throughout the first half, the Australians found it difficult to maintain possession, with Buchanan causing issues on the right flank.
• Despite pressure from the hosts, the disciplined Socceroos backline stood strong, restricting opportunities before the halftime.

Second Half Shift

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

Substitutions in the second half injected immediate energy, with Irankunda capitalizing on a deflected pass and finding Toure, who fired wide.

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

During the 70th minute, after a pinball situation in the defensive area, the Socceroos cleaned up the danger.

Decisive Moment

Moments later, Connor Metcalfe released Toure on the wing, and the striker pulled the ball back into a promising area.

When a opposition player dithered, Irankunda slid in from the unmarked position to score his third strike.

Late Drama

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

Tempers boiled over in injury-time, leading to Irankunda getting a yellow card and taken off amid a scuffle.

During a spiteful conclusion, the Socceroos defense and Izzo stood their ground to seal the win.

Looking Ahead

Having already secured a spot for the upcoming World Cup, the Australian squad are intensifying their preparation with friendlies against North American opponents and the USA, with a game scheduled in Colorado next.