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Caleb Yirenkyi completed a sweeping counterattack with a tap-in extremity successful the 5th infinitesimal of second-half stoppage time, lifting Ghana to a 1-0 triumph implicit Panama successful some teams’ opening World Cup lucifer connected Wednesday successful rainy Toronto.
After Ghana rapidly moved the play from their ain half, Brandon Thomas-Asante drove the shot into the 18-yard container down the near flank. He rolled a walk toward the mediate for Yirenkyi to redirect into the net.
After a precise quiescent first half, the teams picked up the tempo successful the 2nd half, but scoring chances remained minimal until the decisive play.
Panama were the superior squad earlier halftime, portion Ghana dictated much of the play aft intermission.
The lucifer was viewed arsenic a important showdown betwixt teams expected to conflict for 3rd spot successful Group L. Earlier connected Wednesday, England defeated Croatia 4-2 successful a matchup of the group favorites. At the commencement of the tournament, FIFA ranked England No. 4, Croatia No. 11, Panama No. 34 and Ghana No. 73.
In the 2nd minute, Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was called into action, diving to his close to halt a 15-yard volley effort by Cecilio Waterman.
Panama had different half-chance successful the 38th minute. Ati Zigi made a leaping punch to wide a cross. The shot fell to Panama’s Jiovany Ramos, who sliced his 14-yard, right-footed onslaught wide to the right.
Ati Zigi was replaced astatine halftime owed to an injury, with Benjamin Asare taking implicit successful net.
Ghana attempted nary shots successful the archetypal half, the archetypal squad successful this year’s World Cup to execute that dubious feat. Jonas Adjetey ended the drought with a header, which Panama’s Orlando Mosquera stopped successful the 48th minute.
The Ghanaians were missing midfielder Thomas Partey, who was denied a visa to participate Canada owed to pending sexual-assault charges against him successful England. He has denied the accusations. Partey volition beryllium disposable for Ghana’s different 2 radical games, some to beryllium played successful the United States.
Ghana are successful the World Cup for the fifth clip successful the past six editions, with their champion effect being a quarterfinal quality successful 2010.
Panama are competing at conscionable their 2nd World Cup, having mislaid each 3 of their group-stage matches successful 2018.
Both teams are backmost successful enactment on Tuesday, with Ghana facing England successful Foxborough, Mass., and Panama opposing Croatia successful Toronto.
