🔗 Share this article Irankunda Delivers Victory for the Socceroos in Fiery Exhibition Clash with the Canadian side Emerging talent Nestory Irankunda found the back of the net for the consecutive game in a row, while goalkeeper Paul Izzo produced a superb performance to lead the Socceroos to a tight 1-0 win over Canada. Match Breakdown After a uneventful first half dominated by the Canadian team, the Socceroos improved with the entry of second-half substitutes Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller, and Patrick Yazbek. Ultimately, Irankunda who scored the decider in the 71st minute. Keeper Paul Izzo, starting ahead of captain Maty Ryan, produced multiple saves, featuring a brilliant intervention to deny Jacob Shaffelburg in the dying moments, ensuring Australia's seventh consecutive win. NESTOR IRANKUNDA PUTS US AHEAD IN MONTREAL! 🔥🇨🇦 0 - 1 🇦🇺 Key Moments During the third minute, Tajon Buchanan burst into the penalty area, but defender Alessandro Circati made a perfectly timed tackle to clear the threat. Eight minutes later, Irankunda dribbled past multiple opponents and passed to Max Balard, whose shot was deflected. During the opening 45 minutes, the Socceroos struggled to maintain possession, with Buchanan creating problems on the wing. Even with dominance from Canada, the organized Socceroos defense held firm, restricting opportunities before the halftime. Second Half Turnaround Two minutes into the second half, Irankunda embarked on a impressive run, evading Derek Cornelius and firing the ball toward the near post, where Mohamed Toure missed his shot. Changes in the second half brought instant impact, with Irankunda capitalizing on a poor pass and finding Toure, who shot off target. Soon after, Miller delivered a precise ball to Yazbek, who backheeled toward Circati, but the skipper blasted over the bar. During the closing stages, following a scramble in the defensive area, the Socceroos cleaned up the situation. Winning Goal Soon after, Connor Metcalfe released Toure on the right, and the striker cut the ball back into a promising zone. When a opposition player hesitated, Irankunda sneaked in from the blind side to score his third strike. Final Action Although failing to add a another, the Socceroos were saved by Izzo's late heroics. Emotions flared in stoppage time, resulting in Irankunda receiving a booking and taken off amid a fracas. In a spiteful final few minutes, the Australian backline and Izzo stood their ground to secure the result. Next Steps Having now secured a spot for the upcoming World Cup, the Socceroos are intensifying their preparation with friendlies against North American opponents and the USA, with a fixture set in Colorado on Wednesday.