GhanavsPanama

Result

Ghana left it agonisingly late to edge Panama 1-0 in Toronto, Caleb Yirenkyi stabbing in a 95th-minute winner on the break to deny the CONCACAF side a first-ever World Cup point. Panama had the better of a cagey contest, seeing 62% of the ball and forcing four saves, but could not find a breakthrough. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante sparked the decisive fast break, and Yirenkyi — booked inside the opening quarter-hour — finished at 94:04, the latest goal Ghana have ever scored at a World Cup, surpassing Asamoah Gyan's 2010 strike against the USA.

Ghana 4-2-3-13-4-3 Panama

Ghana

Panama

Yirenkyi90'+5'

Yirenkyi16'

Blackman72'

Harvey90'+9'

38%Possession62%

8Shots11

2On target4

4Saves2

2Corners2

292Passes completed503

83%Pass accuracy86%

16Tackles29

14Touches in box19

Substitutions

Asarefor Ati Zigiat 45'

Londoñofor Cristian Martínezat 63'

Issahakufor Nuamahat 58'

Fajardofor Watermanat 63'

Thomas-Asantefor Kamaldeenat 58'

Ismael Díazfor José Luis Rodríguezat 74'

Sibofor Owusuat 78'

Godoyfor Blackmanat 90'

Adufor Ayewat 87'

At this Stage

Group L opened with a statement and a smash-and-grab, and the table pays them the same three points. England lead at +2 after winning a six-goal exchange with Croatia 4-2; Ghana sit a goal back after Caleb Yirenkyi's 95th-minute breakaway — the latest goal Ghana have ever scored at a World Cup — took a game Panama had largely dictated, 62% of the ball and nothing to show. The bottom half reads harshly for it: Panama third at -1 with the group's most encouraging defeat, Croatia last at -2 despite scoring twice, more than Ghana and Panama combined. One matchday is a sketch, not a verdict — but Ghana banked theirs without Thomas Partey or Mohammed Kudus even available, which is either resourcefulness or luck; Group L will tell us which.

Group L

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
England	1	1	0	0	+2	3
Ghana	1	1	0	0	+1	3
Panama	1	0	0	1	-1	0
Croatia	1	0	0	1	-2	0

Top two (above the accent line) advance to the round of 32; the third-placed team is in the race for one of the eight best-third spots.

What we know now

What I said beforehand

The preview, frozen at kickoff. Clearly dated, never rewritten — that's the deal that makes the predictions worth anything.

Ghana, narrowly, in the closest of the day's group openers. Carlos Queiroz's Black Stars carry the more dangerous attack — Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew giving them an edge in pace and finishing — even shorn of Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu. Panama, unbeaten through CONCACAF qualifying under Thomas Christiansen, are organised, experienced and awkward to break down, and have the discipline to make this uncomfortable. Expect Ghana to need patience before edging it 1-0 or 2-1.

Both cases written 2026-06-16, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 30% belongs to the draw.