Ghana produced a moment of late magic in Toronto as Caleb Yirenkyi struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L encounter.
The Black Stars appeared destined for a frustrating draw after a tense battle at Toronto Stadium, but Yirenkyi’s dramatic late finish changed the story and handed Carlos Queiroz’s side three valuable points on the world stage.
Panama started with more attacking intent and nearly took the lead early when Amir Murillo’s dangerous low cross found Cecilio Waterman inside the box.
The forward’s first-time effort looked goal-bound, but Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi reacted brilliantly to make a sharp diving save.
The Central American side continued to push and came close again after Ati Zigi failed to fully clear a dangerous situation.
The loose ball fell kindly for Jiovany Ramos, but the defender could not take advantage, sending his effort over the crossbar.
Ghana struggled to create clear opportunities in the opening stages, with Panama’s organization making life difficult for the Black Stars.
The pressure continued after the break, as Cristian Martinez almost broke the deadlock after collecting a loose ball inside the Ghana penalty area.
The midfielder created space with a clever movement but fired into the side netting.
Carlos Queiroz responded by making changes before the hour mark, introducing fresh attacking options in search of a breakthrough.
The substitutions almost paid off immediately when Brandon Thomas-Asante raced down the right flank and delivered a dangerous pass across the box, but Jiovany Ramos made a crucial defensive intervention to deny Jordan Ayew.
As both teams appeared ready to settle for a point, Ghana found their decisive moment.
Thomas-Asante broke free down the left side before driving into the penalty area and cutting the ball back perfectly.
Yirenkyi arrived at the right time and calmly tapped home his first international goal, sparking huge celebrations among the Ghana supporters.
The late winner not only secured Ghana’s first victory of the tournament but also denied Panama the chance to claim their first-ever World Cup point.
The Black Stars showed patience, resilience and belief until the final whistle, proving that World Cup matches can be decided in a single unforgettable moment.
Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time heroics have now placed Ghana in a strong position as they continue their Group L campaign, while Panama are left searching for answers after missing out on a historic result.
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