Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama due to Caleb Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time winner of their first Group L match on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Simply when the sport appeared destined to finish goalless, Yirenkyi struck within the ninety fifth minute handy the Black Stars a priceless three factors and transfer them into second place within the group behind England.
The profitable objective got here after glorious work from Brandon Thomas-Asante down the left flank. The Coventry Metropolis ahead skipped previous a problem from Panama defender Jose Cordoba earlier than delivering a low cross into the field. Yirenkyi arrived on the far publish to show the ball into the empty web, sparking wild celebrations amongst Ghana’s gamers and supporters.
The match had been a tense and carefully fought contest with few clear possibilities. Panama seemed set to earn the primary World Cup level of their historical past and even pushed their goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera ahead for a late nook in quest of a winner.
Nonetheless, Ghana held agency earlier than producing the decisive second deep into added time.
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz praised his gamers after the match, saying his aspect executed their recreation plan completely.
“First we needed to undergo, we battled like warriors. We gained the sport with the brains,” Queiroz mentioned.
“We knew they’d management elements of the sport. Our technique was to stay affected person and take our probability when it got here.”
Former Nigeria striker Efan Ekoku described the objective as one of the crucial necessary moments in latest Ghanaian soccer historical past, saying Panama can be devastated to see a precious level slip away so late within the recreation.
The victory offers Ghana an enormous increase in Group L and units up a mouth-watering conflict towards group leaders England on Tuesday. The winner of that encounter will safe a spot within the Spherical of 32 with one group recreation nonetheless to play.
Panama, in the meantime, stay and not using a level in World Cup historical past after shedding all 4 of their matches on the match. They’ll now face Croatia in a must-win recreation to maintain their qualification hopes alive.
Ghana’s dramatic victory means the race for qualification stays broad open, with the Black Stars now dreaming of a spot within the knockout levels.
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