18/06/2026 04:49 - Deportes
Jugadores de Ghana celebrando un gol agónico bajo la lluvia torrencial en un estadio nocturno lleno de hinchas emocionadas, con la pelota entrando al arco en el minuto 95 del partido
Under pouring rain and with fans holding their breath, Ghana secured a heart-stopping 1-0 victory over Panama in their debut match of Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The winning goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time, when everything seemed headed for a goalless draw.
The hero of the match was Caleb Yirenkyi, who launched a counterattack after intercepting the ball in his own half, received a perfectly timed pass from Brandon Thomas-Asante - who had come on as a substitute - and slotted home to spark wild celebrations among African fans at Toronto Stadium.
The first half was a tactical battle with few clear chances. Panama had the best opportunity with a shot from Cecilio Waterman that goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi saved with difficulty. Ghana responded with a cross from Jordan Ayew (nephew of legendary Abedi Pele and son of former star Abedi Ayew Pele) that Jiovany Ramos cleared off the line.
In the second half, Ghana's head coach Carlos Queiroz made key substitutions: Benjamin Asare replaced injured goalkeeper Ati-Zigi, and Brandon Thomas-Asante came on to provide the crucial assist.
At 90'+5, Yirenkyi intercepted in his own half, sprinted toward the opponent's area, and connected with Brandon Thomas-Asante's low cross to break the 0-0 deadlock. The celebration was euphoric under the torrential rain.
In the match's final play, Panama's goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera went into the opponent's box seeking a header from a cross, creating chaos after two aerial attempts. Carlos Harvey fired a powerful shot, but substitute goalkeeper Benjamin Asare made the decisive save.
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 🇵🇦 Panama |
|---|---|
| Head Coach: Carlos Queiroz (Portugal) | Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen (Spain) |
| Key Substitutions: Benjamin Asare (goalkeeper, replaced injured Ati-Zigi), Brandon Thomas-Asante (provided the assist) | |
This group features England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. In the other Group L match, England defeated Croatia 4-2 in Dallas, leaving the Croatian side with no margin for error.
Ghana now sits on 3 points, second behind England on goal difference. Panama remains bottom with zero points.
The match was broadcast on DSports 2, TyC Sports, Paramount+ and Flow at 20:00 local time.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
