For 94 minutes, Panama had done almost everything right. They had the ball more often. They created the clearer chances. Their goalkeeper had barely been troubled. And then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time in Toronto, a 20-year-old named Caleb Yirenkyi slid the ball into an empty net and Ghana had three points to their name.
That is football. That is the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Panama, with 63% possession and the better of the match for long periods, return to their hotel with nothing. Ghana, resilient and opportunistic at the death, sit joint-second in Group L on three points alongside England.
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Panama’s Early Statement (2′)
Panama set their intentions within two minutes. Amir Murillo drove down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the Ghana box. Cecilio Waterman latched on to it with the composure of a striker who expected to score. Lawrence Ati-Zigi had other ideas — the Ghana goalkeeper threw himself across goal and clawed the ball away with a diving save that kept the score level and gave his side a chance to settle.
It was the kind of opening that could have broken Ghana’s concentration entirely. Instead, Ati-Zigi’s intervention steadied the ship and allowed the Black Stars to organise.
A Physical First Half and a Costly Blow
The first half was physical, with neither side able to establish any real attacking rhythm. Panama pressed high and disrupted Ghana’s build-up play effectively. Ghana defended in numbers and looked to threaten on the counter. Ati-Zigi was repeatedly called upon to deal with the physicality of Panama’s attack — headers to claim, crosses to punch, challenges to navigate.
The cost became clear at halftime. Ati-Zigi did not reappear for the second period, his groin injury serious enough to end his night. Benjamin Asare took his place between the posts — a change nobody in the Ghana camp would have wanted to make, but one the squad accepted without visible disruption.
Martínez Goes Close (60′)
Panama’s best moment of the second half arrived on the hour mark. Cristian Martínez collected the ball on the edge of the Ghana penalty area, pulled off a clever shimmy to create half a yard of space, and drove a powerful shot toward goal. It fizzed past the post and into the side netting. Martínez held his head in his hands. It was the kind of chance that wins matches.
Ghana barely threatened in response. Panama continued to control the ball and probe for an opening. As the clock ticked toward 90 minutes, a 0–0 draw looked the most likely outcome — a fair reflection of the match, on balance.
Yirenkyi Strikes in Stoppage Time (90+5′)
And then Ghana broke. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante seized on a loose ball on the left flank and drove forward with the energy of a player who had been desperate to get involved since the moment he came on. He reached the byline and, instead of shooting himself, rolled a composed pass across the face of the goal.
Caleb Yirenkyi arrived at pace to meet it. Twenty years old. His first World Cup. He did not hesitate — a simple, clean tap-in that sent the Ghanaian supporters in Toronto into an eruption of noise and left the Panama players staring at the turf in disbelief.
The final whistle followed seconds later. Ghana 1–0 Panama. Three points from a game that offered almost nothing for 94 minutes.
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What This Means
Group L tightens immediately. England lead on goal difference. Ghana join them on three points. Croatia and Panama are both without a point after the opening round of matches — a damaging position in a group with England already looking dangerous.
For Ghana, the concern is the Ati-Zigi injury and how serious it proves to be. He was their most influential player in the first half. For Panama, the pain of this result will be acute — they were the better side for most of the match and leave with nothing to show for it.
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