The Canadian men’s soccer team had a disappointing return to Montreal, losing 1-0 to Australia at Stade Saputo. Australia’s Nestory Irankunda scored the only goal, extending their unbeaten streak to 12 games, with just one loss since March 21, 2024.
Mathieu Choiniere, a Montreal native playing in his hometown for the first time with the national team, acknowledged a minor mistake but expressed a positive outlook on the team’s performance. Despite feeling they were the stronger side and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Canada fell short in converting chances.
The game saw early controversy when Tajon Buchanan was brought down in the penalty area, but no penalty was awarded. Australia then adopted a defensive 5-4-1 formation, frustrating Canada’s attacking efforts while maintaining a solid defensive structure.
Both teams had scoring chances, with Ismael Kone’s shot cleared off the line by Paul Izzo and Alessandro Circati missing a golden opportunity for Australia. In the final 30 minutes, the match opened up, leading to trading chances and increased intensity on both ends.
Australia seized the lead in the 71st minute through Irankunda, capitalizing on a defensive error. Despite Canada’s late push for an equalizer, including a close-range effort from Jacob Shaffelburg, they couldn’t break through Australia’s defense.
The match ended with Australia securing a 1-0 victory. Australia will face the United States next, while Canada will play against Colombia in their upcoming fixtures.