Ghana v Panama
Play By Play
Ghana leave it to the last, but with the latest goal scored at this edition of the World Cup so far, they beat Panama 1‑0 in Toronto (1.25 to 0.75 xG). The Black Stars were second best throughout a disjointed first half, with Waterman and Ramos both going close for Panama, but the second half levelled out, Semenyo dragging Ghana forward and taking the game by the scruff of the neck. He was central again when he slid a ball across the face of goal begging to be tapped in, only for Ramos to produce a stunning goal‑saving challenge to deny Ayew, before almost bending one in at the other end moments later. Cue delirium: in the 95th minute Toronto erupted as Thomas‑Asante burst past Cordoba and squared for Yirenkyi to finish from point‑blank range. Los Canaleros still had one last chance, goalkeeper Mosquera winning the first contact from a dead ball, but Diaz couldn’t generate the power to force it over the line. It’s a vital three points for the African side and a brutal way to lose for Panama, who now face a mountain to climb in Group L. Ghana prepare for England next, while Panama know they must beat Croatia. That’s all from us here – thank you for joining and goodbye!
FULL-TIME: GHANA 1-0 PANAMA
Amid all that chaos, Harvey is the one who ends up in the book, cautioned as tempers flare in the aftermath of that frantic scramble.
SCRAMBLE! Panama almost produce an instant, unbelievable response. A last‑gasp free‑kick is hurled in from the near side, and goalkeeper Mosquera charges forward, rises above everyone, and wins the first contact. His header drops perfectly for Diaz to nod goalwards, but Asare reacts sharply and gathers before bodies pile in.
Assist Brandon Thomas-Asante
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!! GHANA HAVE SCORED AT THE LAST! HOW IMPORTANT MIGHT THAT BE?! 1-0! Semenyo is at the heart of it again, knitting things together just as he has all half, and he releases Thomas‑Asante down the left. The Coventry City man just about beats Cordoba to the ball and slides it across the face of goal, where Yirenkyi stretches, stabs, and forces it over the line. Toronto erupts in a wave of African joy – and for Panama, it’s pure heartbreak.
Substitutes Diaz and Godoy combine neatly down the left, but Godoy can’t keep his cross down – and Ghana immediately spring the other way in pursuit of a late winner.
We're into a minimum of six minutes of added time at the conclusion of this one.
Godoy collects his 156th cap as he comes on to replace Blackman, a move surely designed to shore things up for Panama in these closing stages.
SAVED – OFFSIDE ANYWAY! Semenyo has been pulling the strings throughout this second half – exactly what Ghana needed from him – and this time he slides in Thomas‑Asante. The Coventry City forward opens his body, aiming for the bottom‑right corner, but Mosquera reads it superbly and shuts down the angle to deny what looked a certain winner. The flag then goes up on the far side, so it wouldn't have counted.
Skipper Ayew’s evening comes to an end, with Adu sent on for these final embers.
In 2018, Panama finished bottom of their group, losing all three matches and conceding 11 goals. A goalless draw tonight might not be the result they dreamed of, but it would still stand as their first-ever point at a World Cup finals. That is surely worth real pride for Los Canaleros.
You can just sense the intensity beginning to lift again, as both sides realise a single point might not be enough if they want to qualify as one of the best eight third‑placed teams. Four third‑placed sides won’t make it through – and they’ll be kicking themselves if they end up being one of them.
We’re into the final 10 minutes now, and it feels like both sides might need something special – or a lapse of concentration – to snatch an all‑important three points from their opening match.
Ghana have won only one of their last seven World Cup matches (D2, L4) – that sole victory coming against Korea Republic in the 2022 group stage. The question now is whether they can snatch that late goal they so clearly crave to improve that statistic.
Another alteration for Ghana, with Sibo coming on to replace Owusu.
Andrade tries to pick the angle from deep, but his hung‑up cross just drifts over the leap of Fajardo. The opening goal – if it comes – could fall to either side now, setting up a fascinating final quarter of an hour. The stakes are huge, too, with England and Croatia expected to take the top two spots – leaving third place very much up for grabs.
Rodriguez is the next to make way for Panama, as Diaz takes his place.
Blackman goes into the book for upending Fatawu, and suddenly it’s Ghana who look like the side pushing to win this now.
As play resumes, Ghana win it back instantly and Semenyo finally sparks into life. He drives at his man, forces him wide, then looks to hammer one into the far corner after carving out an angle – but the ball skips awkwardly off the turf and Mosquera can gather without too much panic.
Just as the game finally starts to hot up, the hydration break arrives – and any momentum is instantly cut dead. You can hear the groans ripple around the stadium!
CLOSE! Ramos produces a goal‑saving touch at one end, then almost scores at the other. After driving through the middle and finding space, he opens his body and goes for the far corner with his left foot – but the effort doesn’t quite bend enough to sneak inside the bottom‑left corner.
GOAL‑SAVING CHALLENGE! Ghana carve out by far their greatest chance of the contest – and Ramos has just saved Panama. Semenyo finally gets on the ball, lifts his head, and threads the ball across the box that looks certain to be tapped home by his captain, Ayew. But Ramos comes flying in from behind and gets what might be one of the most crucial touches any Panama player has made at a World Cup finals.
Blackman is picked out on the left‑hand side, and his cross‑shot is comfortably gathered by Asare. It’s unclear whether he was actually going for goal – and if he was, it was never likely to trouble the substitute keeper.
Martinez has been arguably the liveliest player on the pitch, but his night is over as he makes way for the fresh legs of Londono.
