World Cup 2026 | Ghana 1 - 0 Panama
The other game in England’s group wasn’t quite as exciting
Ghana's Caleb Yirenkyi scored a 95th-minute winner to deny Panama a first-ever World Cup point in Toronto, Canada.
Author | Josh T
Stadium | Toronto Stadium
With six minutes of added time played in a match short on clear chances, Brandon Thomas-Asante surged down the left, beat his marker and squared for Yirenkyi, who applied a simple finish.
The outcome was cruel on Panama, who had matched the four-time African champions in only their fourth World Cup appearance since making their debut in 2018.
Ghana's next assignment is against Group L leaders England in Boston on Tuesday, while Panama will hope to end their losing World Cup record when they face Croatia in Toronto on Wednesday.
A closer analysis of what happened
Panama almost went ahead inside two minutes when Cecilio Waterman's effort was pushed over the bar by Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.
After the break, Panama's Cristian Martinez fired into the side-netting from only a few yards out.
And in the closing stages, goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, who had come forward for a late set-piece, headed the ball into the path of team-mate Ismael Diaz, whose nod went straight to Benjamin Asare, Ghana's second-choice keeper.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz introduced Asare at half-time after Zigi suffered an injury when he landed awkwardly during the first half.
Queiroz's side offered little going forward before scoring the latest winning goal of this summer's World Cup so far, and they will likely need to improve if they are to take anything from their next meeting with England.
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