FIFA World Cup

Ghana vs Panama, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup
Ghana
  • 90'+5': Caleb Yirenkyi
FT
1 - 0
Panama

    Ghana strike late for precious win over Panama

    Caleb Yirenkyi scored in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time as Ghana beat Panama 1-0 on Wednesday in the teams' World Cup opener.

    Match Timeline

    • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
    • 0': First Half begins.
    • 1': Offside, Ghana. Jordan Ayew is caught offside.
    • 2': Attempt saved. Cecilio Waterman (Panama) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner by Lawrence Ati Zigi (Ghana). Assisted by Amir Murillo with a cross.
    • 5': Attempt blocked. César Blackman (Panama) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Amir Murillo.
    • 8': Offside, Panama. César Blackman is caught offside.
    • 12': Foul by Antoine Semenyo (Ghana).
    • 12': Amir Murillo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 15': Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 15': Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama).
    • 16': Foul by Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana).
    • 16': Yoel Bárcenas (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 16': Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 21': Offside, Ghana. Kamaldeen Sulemana is caught offside.
    • 23': Delay in match because of an injury Jordan Ayew (Ghana).
    • 24': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 24': Delay in match for a drinks break.
    • 26': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 28': Foul by Marvin Senaya (Ghana).
    • 28': César Blackman (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 30': Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 30': Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama).
    • 34': Lawrence Ati Zigi (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 34': Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama).
    • 35': Delay in match because of an injury Lawrence Ati Zigi (Ghana).
    • 36': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 38': Attempt missed. Jiovany Ramos (Panama) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
    • 42': Delay in match because of an injury Lawrence Ati Zigi (Ghana).
    • 43': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 44': Ernest Nuamah (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 44': Foul by Andrés Andrade (Panama).
    • 45': Offside, Ghana. Antoine Semenyo is caught offside.
    • 45': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
    • 45'+1': Jordan Ayew (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 45'+1': Foul by Jiovany Ramos (Panama).
    • 45'+5': Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) wins a free kick on the left wing.
    • 45'+5': Foul by José Córdoba (Panama).
    • 45'+6': First Half ends, Ghana 0, Panama 0.
    • 45': Substitution, Ghana. Benjamin Asare replaces Lawrence Ati Zigi because of an injury.
    • 45': Second Half begins Ghana 0, Panama 0.
    • 47': Jordan Ayew (Ghana) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
    • 47': Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama).
    • 48': Attempt saved. Jonas Adjetey (Ghana) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Orlando Mosquera (Panama). Assisted by Kamaldeen Sulemana with a cross.
    • 49': Gideon Mensah (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 49': Foul by Cristian Martínez (Panama).
    • 50': Attempt missed. Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jerome Opoku.
    • 51': Foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana).
    • 51': Amir Murillo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 52': Attempt blocked. Yoel Bárcenas (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Carlos Harvey.
    • 53': Corner, Panama. Conceded by Jonas Adjetey.
    • 58': Substitution, Ghana. Brandon Thomas-Asante replaces Kamaldeen Sulemana.
    • 58': Substitution, Ghana. Abdul Fatawu replaces Ernest Nuamah.
    • 59': Attempt missed. Abdul Fatawu (Ghana) left footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
    • 60': Attempt missed. Carlos Harvey (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
    • 60': Attempt missed. Cristian Martínez (Panama) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Carlos Harvey.
    • 62': Corner, Ghana. Conceded by Andrés Andrade.
    • 63': Substitution, Panama. José Fajardo replaces Cecilio Waterman.
    • 63': Substitution, Panama. Azarías Londoño replaces Cristian Martínez.
    • 64': Attempt saved. César Blackman (Panama) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner by Benjamin Asare (Ghana). Assisted by Azarías Londoño.
    • 65': Corner, Ghana. Conceded by Jiovany Ramos.
    • 66': Attempt missed. Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Abdul Fatawu with a cross following a corner.
    • 67': Attempt blocked. Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
    • 67': Attempt missed. Jiovany Ramos (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
    • 68': Delay in match for a drinks break.
    • 71': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 72': Abdul Fatawu (Ghana) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 72': Foul by César Blackman (Panama).
    • 72': César Blackman (Panama) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 73': Attempt missed. Jonas Adjetey (Ghana) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Ayew with a cross following a set piece situation.
    • 74': Substitution, Panama. Ismael Díaz replaces José Luis Rodríguez.
    • 75': Foul by Jordan Ayew (Ghana).
    • 75': Amir Murillo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 76': Foul by Antoine Semenyo (Ghana).
    • 76': Amir Murillo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 78': Substitution, Ghana. Kwasi Sibo replaces Elisha Owusu.
    • 78': Foul by Jordan Ayew (Ghana).
    • 78': Jiovany Ramos (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 79': Abdul Fatawu (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 79': Foul by Andrés Andrade (Panama).
    • 85': Attempt saved. Ismael Díaz (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Benjamin Asare (Ghana). Assisted by Azarías Londoño.
    • 87': Attempt missed. Yoel Bárcenas (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Amir Murillo.
    • 87': Substitution, Ghana. Prince Adu replaces Jordan Ayew.
    • 89': Offside, Ghana. Brandon Thomas-Asante is caught offside.
    • 90': Substitution, Panama. Aníbal Godoy replaces César Blackman.
    • 90': Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.
    • 90'+2': Corner, Panama. Conceded by Marvin Senaya.
    • 90'+5': Goal! Ghana 1, Panama 0. Caleb Yirenkyi (Ghana) right footed shot from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Brandon Thomas-Asante following a fast break.
    • 90'+8': Foul by Prince Adu (Ghana).
    • 90'+8': José Córdoba (Panama) wins a free kick on the right wing.
    • 90'+9': Attempt saved. Ismael Díaz (Panama) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Benjamin Asare (Ghana). Assisted by Orlando Mosquera with a headed pass.
    • 90'+9': Benjamin Asare (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 90'+9': Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama).
    • 90'+9': Carlos Harvey (Panama) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
    • 90'+10': Delay in match because of an injury Benjamin Asare (Ghana).
    • 90'+11': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
    • 90'+11': Foul by Prince Adu (Ghana).
    • 90'+11': Aníbal Godoy (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
    • 90'+12': Second Half ends, Ghana 1, Panama 0.
    • 0': Match ends, Ghana 1, Panama 0.

    Statistics

    https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/pan.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originPAN GHAhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/gha.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
    11 Fouls 9
    2 Yellow Cards 1
    0 Red Cards 0
    1 Offsides 4
    2 Corner Kicks 2
    2 Saves 4
    62 Possession 38
    11 SHOTS 7
    4 ON GOAL 2
    0.4 On Target % 0.3
    0 Penalty Goals 0
    0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
    503 Accurate Passes 292
    583 Passes 352
    0.9 Pass Completion % 0.8
    4 Accurate Crosses 4
    21 Crosses 16
    0.2 Cross % 0.3
    70 Long Balls 52
    34 Accurate Long Balls 30
    0.5 Long Balls % 0.6
    2 Blocked Shots 1
    11 Effective Tackles 9
    29 Tackles 16
    0.4 Tackle % 0.6
    5 Interceptions 8
    17 Effective Clearances 28
    17 Clearances 28

    Game Information

    Competition: FIFA World Cup

    Venue: BMO Field
    Location: Toronto, Canada
    Attendance: 42,942

    FIFA World Cup Table

    # TEAM GP GD PTS
    1 England 3 +4 7
    2 Croatia 3 0 6
    3 Ghana 3 0 4
    4 Panama 3 -4 0
    Full Table

    Line-Ups

    GHA Ghana (4-3-3)

    No. Name
    1 Lawrence Ati Zigi (GK)
    18 Jerome Opoku
    4 Jonas Adjetey
    14 Gideon Mensah
    26 Marvin Senaya
    15 Elisha Owusu
    22 Kamaldeen Sulemana
    3 Caleb Yirenkyi Yellow Card
    9 Jordan Ayew
    11 Antoine Semenyo
    24 Ernest Nuamah
    Ghana Substitutes:
    Alidu Seidu, Joseph Anang, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Baba Rahman, Prince Adu, Benjamin Asare, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Iñaki Williams, Fatawu Issahaku, Kwasi Sibo, Abdul Mumin, Derrick Luckassen, Augustine Boakye.

    PAN Panama (3-4-3)

    No. Name
    22 Orlando Mosquera (GK)
    3 José Córdoba
    16 Andrés Andrade
    13 Jiovany Ramos
    11 Édgar Yoel Bárcenas
    14 Carlos Harvey Yellow Card
    2 César Blackman Yellow Card
    23 Amir Murillo
    18 Cecilio Waterman
    7 José Luis Rodríguez
    6 Cristian Martínez
    Panama Substitutes:
    Éric Davis, Azarias Londoño, Ismael Díaz, Roderick Miller, Alberto Quintero, José Fajardo, Adalberto Carrasquilla, César Yanis, Jorge Gutiérrez, Aníbal Godoy, César Samudio, Fidel Escobar, Edgardo Fariña, Tomás Rodríguez, Luis Mejía.

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