Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory against Panama in their opening Group L match of the FIFA World Cup in Toronto on Wednesday, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Caleb Yirenkyi.
The Black Stars appeared destined for a draw until Yirenkyi found the net deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among Ghanaian supporters in the packed stadium.
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Panama started brightly, with Cecilio Waterman testing Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi just two minutes into the contest. However, clear-cut opportunities were scarce throughout a cagey first half, with Ghana failing to register a shot on target before the break.
The intensity improved after halftime despite persistent rainfall at Toronto Stadium. Panama came close to breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute when Cristian Martinez fired into the side netting, drawing a huge reaction from his team’s supporters.
As the game seemed headed for a stalemate, Yirenkyi struck in the dying moments to hand Ghana all three points.
Following the decisive goal, veteran coach Carlos Queiroz acknowledged the fans, encouraging them to celebrate the memorable victory. The Portuguese tactician, appointed only months before the tournament, became just the second manager in history to feature at five consecutive World Cups, following previous appearances with Portugal and Iran.
The match attracted nearly 43,000 spectators, with sections of the crowd expressing frustration during a second-half hydration break amid heavy rain.
Ghana claimed victory despite the absence of midfielder Thomas Partey, who was unavailable after being denied a visa by Canadian authorities due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Diaz Inspires Colombia to Victory Over Uzbekistan
In Group K, Colombia kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 triumph over World Cup newcomers Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Luis Diaz delivered a standout performance, contributing a goal, an assist and striking the woodwork as Colombia proved too strong for the determined Uzbeks.
The breakthrough came five minutes before halftime when Diaz produced an excellent chipped pass for Daniel Munoz, who finished with a superb volley.
Uzbekistan responded through Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who scored his country’s first-ever World Cup goal after reacting quickest to a rebound from Eldor Shomurodov’s saved effort.
Diaz restored Colombia’s advantage with a strike that slipped past goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov, before Jaminton Campaz sealed the result with a late header.
The victory sends Colombia to the top of Group K, ahead of Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who shared the points in a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.
AFP
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