Canada exits the FIFA U-17 World Cup after painful penalty shootout loss to Ireland

Canada exited the FIFA U-17 World Cup in painful fashion Friday, losing a marathon 10-round penalty shootout to tournament debutant Ireland in round-of-32 play.

Irish 'keeper Alex Noonan made a diving one-handed save to deny Canadian defender Elijah Roche for a 9-8 win in the shootout.

Canada had scored late to pull even at 1-1 and force penalties.

Noonan saved Canadas first penalty attempt from Kevin Khan while Canadian 'keeper Jonathan Ransom stopped Oisin McDonagh with Ireland leading 4-3, denying an Irish victory — at least temporarily.

Dylan Judelson then converted his shot to keep the shootout going. Four more Canadians scored before Noonan ended it.

Marius Aiyenero, Sergei Kozlovskiy, Van Parker, Aghilas Sadek, Johnny Selemani, Sahil Deo and Josh Nteziryayo also scored for Canada in the shootout.

Michael Noonan, Finn Sherlock, Jaden Umeh, Vinnie Leonard, Kian McMahon-Brown, Rory Finneran, Victor Ozhianvuna, Grady McDonnell and Ryan Butler scored for Ireland from the penalty spot.

Canada exits after a breakthrough showing at the tournament. It had gone winless in its eight previous appearances, recording a dismal 0-20-4 record.

The Irish move on to face Switzerland, which won the tournament in 2009 in its only other appearance, in the round of 16. The unbeaten Swiss, who topped Group F at 2-0-1, dispatched Egypt 3-1 earlier Friday.

Kozlovskiy had pulled Canada even in the 85th minute with an elegant right-footed volley from outside the penalty box after Ireland failed to deal with a ball sent in from a throw-in. Kozlovskiy, who had come on in the 76th minute, was making his first appearance at the tournament.

The 17-year-old defender joined the CPL's Atletico Ottawa in March on an Exceptional Young Talent contract