Key events
Mo Toure sent the ball into the box ahead of Irankunda’s match-winning intervention but is reluctant to claim it as an “assist” while speaking with Paramount after the game.
It was a very tough game. In the first half it was difficult, we didn’t get many chances. In the second half we got more control and had some big chances leading up to the goal.
Connor is a magician. He sees everything. I crossed it in and Nestory was there, I don’t even know if it will count as an assist. The scrappy goals show your hunger, and I’m very proud of the kid for scoring.
Australia lived up to Canada coach Jesse Marsch’s pre-game claims that their defence is “stingy” as the Socceroos held out the hosts with a low block, desperate defence and an outstanding performance from Paul Izzo. The Australia keeper was calm and composed throughout but had to stand up in added time as Canada threw everything at the visitors as they chased an equaliser that they largely deserved.
Tony Popovic’s unbeaten streak now stretches to 11 matches with this arguably the hardest earned win during the period as the Socceroos sat deep and allowed Canada to come at them. The hosts had 60-40% possession, 17-5 shots and 8-1 attempts on target, but – as is so often the way – the Socceroos’ one “shot” dribbled into the net as Nestory Irankunda slid in to dispossess an unaware Niko Sigur and knock the ball into the net.
Full-time: Canada 0-1 Australia
Australia hold firm to steal victory from Canada after Nestory Irankunda snatches a goal in the 71st minute.
95 mins: Canada keep pressing and Paul Izzo is called into action twice to keep the ball out as Promise David leaps high to challenge him – fairly – on the goalline. Izzo has been brilliant in the dying stages – and throughout, really.
93 mins: Spot fires all over the field now. Irankunda gets himself involved, is one of four players handed a yellow card and is quickly hooked by Tony Popovic.
90 mins: Paul Izzo pulls off a miraculous save as the keeper spreads himself and blocks a Jacob Schaffelburg shot with his left boot. How did that stay out? Five minutes of added time to come.
88 mins: Two chances in a minute for the Socceroos as Irankunda looks more and more threatening as the game opens up. But Jordy Bos fails to find Martin Boyle running into the box all alone, then Irankunda can’t quite get a foot on a darting low cross soon after.
86 mins: Nestory Irankunda wins the ball in a tough challenge and bursts down the left. Luc de Fougerolles has no other intention but to take out the Socceroos youngster as Canada claim their earlier contest should have been a foul against Irankunda.
84 mins: Jonathan David turns the ball over with a sloppy pass. Not great signs for Canada when their chief playmaker – who has been outstanding in this game – is giving the ball away easily.
82 mins: Australia bring Martin Boyle on for Connor Metcalfe. The veteran’s fresh legs can help spread Canada on any counters – though it has been a while since we have seen one from the Socceroos.
80 mins: Australia’s defence looks comfortable especially with Buchanan now watching from the bench. The visitors are happy to frustrate Canada now as the sting slowly disappears from the contest – not ideal for the hosts as they trail by a goal.
78 mins: Canada freshen things up further. Tajon Buchanan has been much quieter in the second half and makes way alongside Niko Sigur. Liam Millar and Tani Oluwaseyi come on for Les Rouges.
75 mins: Canada lock the ball forward but there is a lack of penetration now. Australia have done well to keep the hosts out even while sitting deep for much of the game – and likely that will be the plan they follow for the next 20 minutes too.
73 mins: Canada are rattled after Irankunda pinches a goal from Sigur’s feet. Mo Toure heads for the bench with veteran Mitch Duke replacing the young attacker.
GOAL! Canada 0-1 Australia (Irankunda ’71)
Nestory Irankunda steals a goal for the Socceroos. Mo Toure sends a speculative cross into the box where a pair of Canada defenders are all that is waiting. But Niko Sigur fails to clear before the teenage sensation comes sliding in to knock the ball into the back of the net. A total sucker-punch against the run of play for the Socceroos.
70 mins: Canada somehow fail to score with a scramble in the six-yard box and a shot from Promise David that Paul Izzo keeps out with a reflex save. The Socceroos are hanging on.
68 mins: Canada swing more changes. Mathieu Choiniere and Luc de Fougerolles come on for Nathan Saliba and Derek Cornelius.
67 mins: Jacob Schaffelburg goes to ground easily in the box after a cross from Canada. The hosts seem certain there was something in that but the referee is unfazed.
65 mins: Jordy Bos races down the left wing and is taken out – for the second time in a couple of minutes – just as he is about to hit top speed. The Socceroos appeal for a foul but the referee waves away the appeals.
63 mins: Canada make their first changes as the hosts sense the tide might be turning. Promise David and Jacob Shaffelburg join the game as Ali Ahmed and Cyle Larin are done for the day.
61 mins: Lewis Miller opens up the Canada defence with a scything pass into the box. A back heel from Patrick Yazbek sends the hosts scrambling but Alessandro Circati leans back on his shot from close range and scoops it over the bar. The Socceroos’ best two chances of the game have come in the past few minutes as initial signs of working their way back into the contest.
59 mins: Irankunda and Toure connect again as the teenager breaks the game open down the left and picks out his mate with a crisp cutback. But again Toure elects to go with his right boot when a left footed swing might have been better.
57 mins: A triple change for Australia as coach Tony Popovic needs to find a way to shake up this contest if his side is to get anything out of the game. Jordy Bos, Lewis Miller and Patrick Yazbek come on for Jacob Italiano, Kye Rowles and Max Balard.
55 mins: The second half is starting to look a lot like the first as Canada get their foot on the ball and lock it forward while Australia set up camp closer to their own goal.
53 mins: Irankunda collects in the midfield, turns at the same time and searches for space on the right but Canada defender Cornelius is not leaving his side now. A quick counter and clean touches between David and Buchanan threaten to create a chance for the hosts but again the Socceroos defence get a foot in just in time.
51 mins: Australia debutant Jacob Italiano runs through the back of Richie Laryea just as the Canadian releases the ball. No surprise that the Socceroos have come out breathing fire after a tepid first half. Cyle Larin has half a chance from the top of the box but is unable to get the ball out from under his feet among a sea of Socceroos.
48 mins: Nestory Irankunda slices through the Canada defence and rockets in a low cross but Mo Toure doesn’t have enough time to get his feet in place while a couple of metres from goal, and the ball bounces off his right boot and into Maxime Crepeau’s hands. If the Canada defence weren’t aware of the danger that Irankunda can present even in a one-on-three, they certainly are now.
46 mins: No changes for either side as Connor Metcalfe gets Australia off to an ideal start with a steal in their attacking half. Nestory Irankunda goes down under a tackle from Derek Cornelius – who is already on a yellow. The referee has a word with the Canada defender but the Socceroos don’t get the second caution they hoped for.
Canada had more of the possession (56-44%) and most of the shots during the first half as the Socceroos showed them huge respect and sat deep. There was some sense in that, especially with Tajon Buchanan a threat with his pace and dangerman Jonathan David looking to unlock the defence in a No 10 role, but Australia put themselves under too much pressure as they struggled to connect with the midfield when trying to make their way out from the back.
Passes in opposition half – 182-47 in favour of Canada – tell much of the story, while the hosts have had seven shots to Australia’s one as well as the only two attempts on target.
Half-time: Canada 0-0 Australia
A hugely impressive half from Canada despite being unable to find a way through Australia’s robust defence. The hosts certainly tested their coach’s theory that the Socceroos’ defence is “stingy”.
45 mins: Superb defence from Kye Rowles saves Australia – yet again. Buchanan finds space down the right and carries the ball at pace into the penalty box but the Socceroos defender twice gets body on Buchanan to prevent the clear shot. Canada keep pressing with chances off the corner. Half-time can’t come soon enough for the Socceroos.
43 mins: Tajon Buchanan shows off his pace after Jonathan David releases the Villarreal forward at the edge of the box. Buchanan takes the shot early but can’t get enough behind it as Paul Izzo dives to his right to comfortably collect.
41 mins: The tension is building as the number of late challenges grows. Canada defender Derek Cornelius and Australia forward Mo Toure earn the first yellow cards.
39 mins: Tajon Buchanan gets away another volley and strikes it more sweetly this time. But again it is blocked by Kye Rowles on the edge of the six-yard box. The duo are back at it moments later as a cross from the left has them competing for a the ball in the air. Both get a touch on it but Buchanan is judged to have got the last feather on it before he dribbles out for a throw-in.
37 mins: The Canada press continues to have Australia on the ropes. The Socceroos’ misplaced passes from defence into the midfield continue but that is as much on the hosts as the visitors.
35 mins: Ismael Kone bustles his way through the Socceroos defence and into the box. Alessandro Circati and Kye Rowles close in from either side but it takes a desperate lunge from the latter to take the danger away from Kone’s feet. The ball trickles in slow motion toward the bottom corner of the net as Paul Izzo scrambles back and dives to clear it away with his right hand. That was very nearly something from nothing from Kone!
33 mins: Australia are unable to cross the halfway line for more than a brief moment as the midfield struggles to connect with the defence, let alone between themselves. A long throw into the Canada box is allowed to bounce but again the Socceroos centre-backs hold firm.
31 mins: Tajon Buchanan launches into a first-time volley from the edge of the box. The mis-hit shot almost scoops the ball over Paul Izzo’s head – the Socceroos keeper is a few steps off his line – but there is not quite enough power to clear the last line.
29 mins: Canada attacker Cyle Larin leaps highest and gets his head to a Canada cross but gets over the top of it and it pops in Paul Izzo’s hands. A missed opportunity, but the danger is growing.
27 mins: Canada continue to pass the ball around the final third without testing the Socceroos defence which is more than comfortable with speed taken out of the game.
25 mins: Canada settle better after the long break to assess Waterman – who is continuing, by the way – as the hosts take control with a long period of possession.
23 mins: The players on both sides take time to warm back into the game after Joel Waterman needed some attention. Nathan Saliba wakes everyone up with a long-range shot. There is plenty of power in the strike but it sails wide.
19 mins: A moment of calm for everyone but Canada defender Joel Waterman who appears to be winded and will need some attention.
17 mins: A corner for Australia but Nestory Irankunda sends the cross high and wide over the heads of the players in the box and out for a throw-in on the opposite side.
15 mins: End-to-end attacking football is just what we’re after. Tajon Buchanan remains a huge threat and looks dangerous whenever he has the ball at his feet. But this time he takes it too close to Socceroos keeper Paul Izzo and his deft cross is blocked. At the other end, Mo Toure gets behind the Canada defence but elects to tap a shot with the outside of his right boot when a left foot would have been more likely to test keeper Maxime Crepeau.
13 mins: Nestory Irankunda dazzles down the left and cutback finds Max Balard but the skewed shot is blocked before it tests the keeper. Nathan Saliba’s volley at the other end is struck much cleaner but is wide of Paul Izzo’s near post.
11 mins: Jacob Italiano enters the attacking half as he looks to impress on his Socceroos debut. The young right-back goes to ground under little contact from Canada defender Richie Laryea and is left with a firm verbal reminder that he will be expected to keep his feet better at this level.
9 mins: Canada are awarded a free kick as Circati’s challenge is a little too robust. The long cross almost picks out David as Australia hold their high line a touch too long.
7 mins: Nestory Irankunda is involved for the first time down the right for the Socceroos. The teenage sensation almost finds a way through and into the penalty box but with the gap closing quickly he is forced to pass backwards. Good to see the young gun putting a premium on holding onto the ball though.
5 mins: Canada lock the ball forward to pile the pressure on Australia. The hosts have formidable attacking threats but the Socceroos defence looks more comfortable as the game slows down.
3 mins: Tajon Buchanan is lively early and has no trouble getting around a tumbling Milos Degenek on his way into the box. The touch is a little heavy and gives Alessandro Circati time to dive in. Buchanan goes to ground and there are claims for a penalty, but he was searching for it under next to no contact. That was risky from Circati, though, and warning signs for Australia.
1 min: A promising start for the hosts but Cam Burgess heads a tricky cross clear. A corner for Canada.
Kickoff
Peeeeeeep! Socceroos attacker Mohamed Toure passes backward to begin the clash with Canada at Stade Saputo in Montreal. An important match for both sides as they test themselves against quality opposition.
The national anthems are complete and there was plenty of passion coming from the stands in Montreal during the rendition of O Canada. We’re about to get under way …
Canada coach Jesse Marsch labelled the Socceroos as “stingy” during the build up to this friendly. Australia are yet to lose since Popovic took over from Graham Arnold in September, with the Socceroos sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup as part of their 10-match unbeaten run. The Socceroos have scored 20 goals and conceded just seven across those matches, and the team have won their past six. Head coach Tony Popovic was wearing that label as a badge of honour on the day before the game.
I take that as a compliment. I could say the same about them, when you look at their recent results and how they defend as a unit.
We’re playing a team in very good form. When you look at their list and see where they all play throughout the world, you see they’re formidable individuals, and they’re forming a team that’s picking up very good results. The last two against Wales and Romania in Europe were clean sheets, two very good performances.
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic explains the reasons for Jacob Italiano’s debut, as well as his thinking behind selecting Paul Izzo between the posts while Mat Ryan takes a seat among the substitutes.
Italiano comes in, so a special night obviously for him and his family. I’m sure they’ll be very excited watching. He’s come in and done very well in training, settled in very quickly, so I thought he deserved an opportunity.
The rest pretty much remains the same. Ale’s [Circati] captain again, which is I think wonderful for him. It’s his birthday today. A nice one for the young man. I just want to see whether he can keep growing in that leadership role.
I think the last camp with Maty not there, it was either Paul or Joe Gauci playing. I just wanted Paul to have a sense of, ‘you’re playing this time with Maty Ryan here’, and I think that’s a little bit different psychologically.
Let’s see how he handles that, but I just feel he deserves another opportunity to show us what he can do – away from home, tough opponent, tough conditions, and I really want to see how he handles that.
Australia XI
Socceroos: Paul Izzo (gk), Jacob Italiano, Alessandro Circati (capt), Milos Degenek, Cam Burgess, Kye Rowles, Aiden O’Neill, Max Balard, Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda, Mo Toure.
Alessandro Circati take the captain’s armband for a second time in just his eighth international while Paul Izzo is preferred between the posts even with Socceroos stalwart Mat Ryan in the squad. Jacob Italiano is handed a surprise debut at right back after impressing in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Canada XI
Les Rouges: Maxime Crepeau (gk), Richie Laryea, Derek Cornelius, Joel Waterman, Niko Sigur, Nathan Saliba, Ismael Kone, Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David (capt), Cyle Larin.
Jonathan David leads Canada and will be a key to their hopes while Maxime Crepeau is preferred in goal and Joel Waterman steps into the defence. There is plenty of firepower in the lineup, especially with the Juventus striker leading the line, despite the ongoing absence of full-back Alphonso Davies due to a serious knee injury.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Bonjour! Hello and welcome to live coverage of the international football friendly between Canada and Australia at Stade Saputo in Montreal. The Socceroos and Les Rouges are ramping up their preparations for the 2026 World Cup which Canada will of course co-host alongside the United States and Mexico, with a clash against a most evenly-matched opponent.
Australia are ranked No 25 in the world as they have gone on a 10-match unbeaten run since head coach Tony Popovic took charge, and have continued to impress even after qualifying for the showpiece event next year. The Socceroos most recently defeated New Zealand in the Soccer Ashes with a 3-1 and 1-0 victory as young guns Nestory Irankunda and Mo Toure caught fire, and Max Balard scored a match-winner on debut.
Canada sit only one spot behind today’s opponents in the rankings in 26th place, while only conceding twice in their past seven matches – though they have lost a couple of penalty shootouts in that stretch against Ivory Coast in a friendly and to Guatemala in the Gold Cup. Les Rouges enter this match following a 3-0 win over Romania and a 1-0 victory over Wales.
This is the first meeting between the teams since the Socceroos beat Canada 3-0 at Craven Cottage in London in October 2013.
Kick off in Montreal is 7.40pm local / 10.40am AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news. But now is the time to hit me up with questions, thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
