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

Fixture Breakdown

Following a uneventful opening period dominated by the Canadian team, the Socceroos improved with the introduction of second-half substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. It was Irankunda who made the difference in the second half.

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo, starting in place of captain Maty Ryan, made multiple saves, including a world-class effort to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, ensuring Australia's seventh consecutive win.

NESTOR IRANKUNDA SCORES AUSTRALIA AHEAD IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Actions

• During the early stages, Tajon Buchanan charged into the penalty area, but captain Alessandro Circati executed a well-timed challenge to clear the threat.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda dribbled past two opponents and set up Max Balard, whose attempt was deflected.
• During the first half, the Australians found it difficult to maintain the ball, with Buchanan causing problems on the wing.
• Even with dominance from the hosts, the disciplined Australian backline held firm, restricting chances before the halftime.

Post-Interval Improvement

Two minutes into the second half, Irankunda embarked on a wonderful run, evading Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the goal, where Mohamed Toure scuffed his attempt.

Substitutions in the second half injected immediate impact, with Irankunda capitalizing on a poor pass and finding Toure, who shot wide.

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

During the closing stages, following a pinball situation in the box, the Socceroos cleared the situation.

Decisive Moment

Moments later, Connor Metcalfe sent Toure on the right, and the forward pulled the ball back into a dangerous area.

As a opposition player dithered, Irankunda sneaked in from the unmarked position to tap in his third strike.

Final Action

Although failing to score a second goal, the Socceroos were rescued by Izzo's late saves.

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

In a spiteful conclusion, the Socceroos backline and Izzo held firm to seal the result.

Next Steps

Having already qualified for the upcoming global tournament, the Socceroos are intensifying their preparation with friendlies against Canada and the United States, with a game set in Colorado on Wednesday.