Irankunda Delivers Victory for the Socceroos in Fiery Friendly Clash with the Canadian side

Young prodigy Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the consecutive match in a row, as shot-stopper Paul Izzo put in a outstanding display to help the Australian national team to a narrow 1-0 result over Canada.

Match Breakdown

Following a dull first half dominated by the Canadian team, the Australian side improved with the introduction of second-half replacements Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. Ultimately, Irankunda who broke the deadlock in the 71st minute.

Keeper Paul Izzo, starting ahead of captain Maty Ryan, produced multiple stops, including a world-class effort to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, ensuring Australia's seventh consecutive victory.

NESTORY IRANKUNDA PUTS US IN FRONT IN CANADA! 🔥

🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺

Notable Highlights

• During the early stages, Tajon Buchanan charged into the box, but defender Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed challenge to clear the danger.
• Eight minutes later, Irankunda beat multiple opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose shot was blocked.
• During the first half, the Socceroos struggled to keep possession, with Buchanan creating issues on the right flank.
• Despite dominance from the hosts, the disciplined Socceroos defense held firm, limiting chances before the break.

Second Half Shift

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

Changes in the second half injected immediate energy, with Irankunda pouncing on a deflected clearance and setting up Toure, who shot off target.

Soon after, Miller delivered a precise ball to Yazbek, who flicked toward Circati, but the skipper shot high.

In the 70th minute, following a scramble in the box, the Australians cleaned up the situation.

Decisive Moment

Soon after, Connor Metcalfe released Toure on the wing, and the forward pulled the ball back into a promising zone.

When a Canadian player hesitated, Irankunda slid in from the blind side to tap in his third international goal.

Final Action

Despite unable to score a second goal, the team were saved by Izzo's last-minute saves.

Emotions flared in stoppage time, resulting in Irankunda receiving a yellow card and being substituted amid a scuffle.

During a spiteful final few minutes, the Socceroos backline and Izzo held firm to seal the result.

Looking Ahead

With already secured a spot for the next global tournament, the Socceroos are ramping up their preparation with warm-up matches against North American opponents and the United States, with a game scheduled in Colorado next.