Republic of Ireland U17 1-1 Canada U17
(Ireland win 9-8 in a penalty shootout)<\/p>\n
The Republic of Ireland held their nerve in an epic penalty shootout to get past Canada and progress to the last 16 of the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Shamrock Rovers attacker Michael Noonan broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, captialising on a mistake at the back to knock home a composed finish.<\/p>\n
That looked like it would be enough to settle a cagey contest, but Canadian subsitutute Sergei Kozlovskiy guided home a volley from distance with five minutes to go.<\/p>\n
The game went straight to penalties, where the drama went up several notches.<\/p>\n
Ireland keeper Alex Noonan saved Canada’s first spot-kick, taken by Kevin Khan, and it seemed that would be decisive as the Boys in Green dispatched their first four efforts with aplomb.<\/p>\n
However Jonathan Ransom – who traded insults with Irish players throughout the shootout – made a fine save to deny Oisin McDonagh what would have been the match-winning peno, and after Dylan Judelson netted, we went to sudden death.<\/p>\n
There were nine more successful attempts before Noonan clawed away Elijah Roche’s strike to win it for his country.<\/p>\n
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Canada<\/p>\n
Michael Noonan pounces to give #COYBIG<\/a> the lead in the FIFA U17 World Cup last 32 match #U17WC<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watch live – https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Updates – https:\/\/t.co\/JMsve8j4Rq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MYHInnRGNG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n They will now head for a last-16 meeting against the Swiss on Tuesday.<\/p>\n It was an exhausting battle between two evenly matched teams.<\/p>\n Noonan theatened early with a clever free-kick, his shot bending inches past the right-hand post. The tireless forward almost got in soon after that when Grady McDonnell threaded through a beautiful pass. Ransom raced out of his goal to smother the attempt.<\/p>\n Canada eventually found their feet and began to show a threat. Sahil Deo forced Alex Noonan into a decent stop; then Vinnie Leonard had to be alert to cut out a dangerous Shola Jimoh through ball.<\/p>\n Scoreless at the break, Ireland re-emerged with more vigour.<\/p>\n Ransom stuck out a left leg to block Ramon Martos’ fierce shot from inside the area, and Ryan Butler nodded a header into the keeper’s hands following a good Jaden Umeh cross.<\/p>\n In the 65th minute, the breakthrough arrived. Leonard’s punt forward caught out Josh Nteziryyo, who allowed Noonan to nip around him and knock a left-footed finish beyond Ransom.<\/p>\n Umeh and Noonan had chances to kill the game before Kozlovskiy pinched an 85th-minute equaliser, his controlled volley skipping through a sea of bodies and nestling in the corner.<\/p>\n A nation holds its breathe and – after a lengthy delay – they’re there!<\/p>\n Ireland are through to the last 16 at the U17 World Cup after a sudden death penalty shootout win over Canada #COYBIG<\/a> #U17WC<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Watch live – https:\/\/t.co\/XnOP6grnB7<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf1 Updates – https:\/\/t.co\/JMsve8j4Rq<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/MwJwioLYMv<\/a><\/p>\n