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Young sensation Nestory Irankunda netted for the consecutive match in a row, while goalkeeper Paul Izzo produced a superb performance to guide the Socceroos to a tight 1-0 win over Canada.

Fixture Breakdown

Following a dull first half controlled by the Canadian team, the Australian side improved with the arrival of late replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who scored the decider in the second half.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, starting ahead of captain Maty Ryan, produced several saves, featuring a brilliant intervention to stop Jacob Shaffelburg in the 90th minute, securing Australia's seventh consecutive victory.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA PUTS AUSTRALIA AHEAD IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Highlights

• During the early stages, Tajon Buchanan burst into the box, but captain Alessandro Circati made a well-timed challenge to clear the danger.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda dribbled past multiple defenders and passed to Max Balard, whose shot was blocked.
• Throughout the first half, the Socceroos struggled to maintain the ball, with Buchanan causing issues on the right flank.
• Even with dominance from Canada, the disciplined Socceroos backline stood strong, limiting chances before the break.

Second Half Turnaround

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

Changes in the 57th minute brought instant impact, with Irankunda pouncing on a deflected pass and setting up Toure, who fired wide.

Later, Miller delivered a precise cross to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the captain blasted over the bar.

During the 70th minute, after a scramble in the box, the Socceroos cleaned up the situation.

Winning Moment

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

As a Canadian player dithered, Irankunda slid in from the unmarked position to score his third international goal.

Late Action

Despite unable to add a another, the team were rescued by Izzo's last-minute heroics.

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

During a heated conclusion, the Australian defense and Izzo stood their ground to secure the result.

Looking Ahead

Having now qualified for the next World Cup, the Socceroos are intensifying their readiness with friendlies against North American opponents and the USA, with a fixture scheduled in Colorado on Wednesday.