- Full Time
- 99'C. Harvey
- C. Yirenkyi95'
- 90'A. Godoy on for C. Blackman
- P. Adu on for J. Ayew87'
- K. Sibo on for E. Owusu78'
- 74'I. Díaz on for J. Rodríguez
- 72'C. Blackman
- 63'A. Londoño on for C. Martínez
- 63'J. Fajardo on for C. Waterman
- A. Fatawu on for E. Nuamah58'
- B. Thomas-Asante on for K. Sulemana58'
- B. Asare on for L. Zigi46'
- Half Time
- C. Yirenkyi16'
- Kick Off
-
1
Caleb Yirenkyi1
- 1
Yoel Bárcenas2 - 2Caleb Yirenkyi2
- 3Ismael Díaz2
- 1Marvin Senaya3
- 2Cristian Martínez3
- 3Carlos Harvey2
A dramatic late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi secured all three points for Ghana in their Group L opener against Panama in Toronto.
In a tense affair in which both sides clearly understood the importance of the win chances were few and far between and a back-post tap-in from the Nordsjaelland midfielder deep into injury-time was enough to separate the teams.
Panama nearly got off to the perfect start, with Cecilio Waterman drawing an acrobatic save from Ghana keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi in the second minute from a well-struck half volley.
In reality though, that was the major incident of the opening stages, with both teams feeling their way into the game in wet conditions in Toronto.
Los Canaleros had a penalty claim waved away when Cristian Martínez was bundled over by Jerome Opoku in the box, with the referee judging the contact to be minimal.
The Concacaf outfit continued to have the better of the first-half without forcing a major chance, though Jiovany Ramos skewed a long-range effort over the bar.
Ghana had to wait for the second half before they had their first attempt on target and it came via the head of centre-back Jonas Adjetey – but his effort was comfortably kept out by Orlando Mosquera.
The tension continued deeper into the second period and no real chances arose until the ball broke to Cristian Martínez on the right side of the box, but he misfired and found the side-netting with his strike.
Just before the hydration break, Ghana thought they finally had the deadlock broken. Antoine Semenyo was played in on the right side of the box and his low cross looked for all the world like finding Jordan Ayew, only to be cleared at the last second by Jiovany Ramos.
Ramos just seconds later would come close at the other end, curling a left-footed shot just wide of the post.
Just as it seemed that time had run out for either side to grab a crucial win, the rising star of Ghanaian football arrived on the scene to clinch the win. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante did all the work, beating his man down the left to cross for Caleb Yirenkyi to tap in a dramatic last-gasp winner.
There was still time for one last chance for Panama to earn themselves a point ewhen goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera headed a late free-kick into the path of team-mate Ismael Diaz, but the midfielder couldn’t get enough power on the header and Ghana were able to cling on for the win.