Ghana take down Panama after clutch last-minute goal from Yirenkyi

[p]Both countries were well aware of the importance of this fixture, given their group also contains European heavyweights [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], yet the first half never really got going, with both sides rather cagey in their play.[/p][p]There was at least an exciting opening to the contest, as with just two minutes on the clock, a ball into the area was glanced goalwards on the half-volley by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/waterman-cecilio/WAuwziMt/"]Cecilio Waterman[/a], with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ati-zigi-lawrence/MLx41pIf/"]Lawrence Ati Zigi[/a] reacting well to make a smart save to deny the forward.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] finished top of their group in qualifying; however, they failed to win any of their six subsequent friendlies and looked to be stuck in the same rut in a poor opening [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-nNBjHale/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=jD1Nwbif"]45 minutes[/a], which saw them register just a solitary wayward effort from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/senaya-marvin/YFqLAlLI/"]Marvin Senaya[/a].[/p][p]The Canal Men had a firm grip on possession in the first period, but aside from a penalty appeal just after the half-hour mark, they never looked likely to open the scoring before the break.[/p][image alt="Ghana-Panama momentum" id="379ae32c-d4e2-4025-8215-fbc09b910077" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform" guid="d202712a-6ccb-4596-93ef-73087aa38fed" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Ghana had won just one of their last seven WC matches, and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/singida-black-stars/jTBgEvMq/"]Black Stars[/a] looked unlikely to improve on that run as their attacking struggles continued.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] had the first opportunity of note in the second half, when on the hour mark, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harvey-carlos/lvHJtK7r/"]Carlos Harvey[/a]’s miscued effort from just outside the area resulted in the ball rolling kindly to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-christian/jBL8oCZ8/"]Christian Martinez[/a], but the attacking midfielder was put under just enough pressure to ensure that his close-range effort found the side netting.[/p][p]The four-time African champions finally produced a piece of play to get their supporters on the edge of their seats seven minutes later, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brandon-thomas-asante/2TmTgQFn/"]Brandon Thomas-Asante[/a]’s ball across the area looked set to be tapped home by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ayew-jordan/6Nj04peg/"]Jordan Ayew[/a].[/p][p]But a heroic sliding challenge from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ramos-jiovany/UPGYWGkO/"]Jiovany Ramos[/a] prevented the goal-scoring opportunity.[/p][p]The Black Stars certainly improved in the second period, with Panama unable to convert their possession into a regular threat. It looked for all money as though the game was heading for a stalemate, but in a highly dramatic conclusion, Ghana snatched victory in the 95th minute.[/p][p][b]The lively Thomas-Asante broke free down the left before advancing into the area and squaring to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yirenkyi-caleb/INmgLCSF/"]Yirenkyi[/a], who poked the ball into an empty net to spark wild scenes of celebration from the Ghanaians in attendance.[/b][/p][image alt="Ghana-Panama matchup stats" id="369c6ff1-fd18-46ff-b514-4e0cb0ee8e63" credit-line="Opta via StatsPerform" guid="2325a43c-d6e9-413b-9e75-aa8ed1d5b86e" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The result means [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carlos-henrique/OCt4yMHr/"]Carlos Queiroz[/a]’s men sit second in Group L with a game against leaders England up next, while dejected Panama sit third after just a third defeat in 14 matches, and their path to the knockout stages appears treacherous.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yirenkyi-caleb/INmgLCSF/"]Caleb Yirenkyi[/a] (Ghana)[/b][/p]