Ghana World Cup Win: Caleb Yirenkyi scores in stoppage time as the Black Stars defeat Panama 1-0 in a dramatic Group L opener in Toronto
Ghana secured a dramatic World Cup victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday, with midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scoring deep into stoppage time to hand the Black Stars a hard-fought 1-0 win in their opening Group L fixture.
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The decisive moment arrived in the fifth minute of added time when Yirenkyi bundled the ball home, sparking jubilant celebrations among thousands of Ghanaian supporters inside Toronto Stadium and delivering a vital three points for Carlos Queiroz’s side.
The encounter had largely been an attritional contest, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities for long periods.
Panama came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening stages when striker Cecilio Waterman forced Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi into an early save just two minutes after kick-off.
Despite enjoying spells of possession, the Black Stars failed to register a shot on target throughout the first half as Panama’s defence kept the West Africans at bay.
The tempo improved after the interval as steady rain fell across the stadium, encouraging a more open contest.
Panama’s Cristian Martínez thought he had provided a breakthrough in the 60th minute when he drove a powerful effort towards goal.
The attempt crashed into the side-netting, prompting a huge reaction from the sizeable Panamanian support inside the nearly 43,000-capacity crowd.
As the match edged towards a goalless draw, Ghana continued to press for a late winner.
Their persistence paid off in dramatic fashion when Yirenkyi capitalised on a late opportunity inside the penalty area, poking home the decisive goal and igniting scenes of celebration among players, coaching staff and supporters.
Moments after the winner, veteran coach Carlos Queiroz turned towards the Ghanaian fans and urged them to raise the volume as the stadium erupted.
The victory marked another milestone for Queiroz, who only assumed charge of the Black Stars a few months before the tournament.
The Portuguese tactician became only the second coach in football history to feature at five consecutive FIFA World Cups, having previously guided Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
A notable moment during the match came during a second-half hydration break, when loud boos echoed around the stadium amid heavy rainfall, reflecting the tense atmosphere as both teams searched for a breakthrough.
Ghana entered the tournament without experienced midfielder Thomas Partey. The Villarreal player is currently facing trial in Britain on rape charges and was unable to travel after Canadian authorities declined to grant him a World Cup visa. Partey denies the allegations.
The Ghana World Cup Win provides an important boost to the Black Stars’ hopes of advancing from Group L and continues the nation’s proud tradition of competing strongly on football’s biggest stage.
For Panama, the narrow defeat will be a frustrating outcome after a disciplined defensive performance that looked set to earn at least a point before Ghana’s late breakthrough.
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With tougher tests still to come in the group phase, the result could prove pivotal in shaping the qualification race in the days ahead.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
