Caleb Yirenkyi struck a 95th-minute winner as Ghana edged Panama 1-0 in Group L, rescuing what threatened to be a flat opening to their FIFA World Cup campaign and denying Panama a historic first point on the global stage at Toronto Stadium.

The late strike arrived after a tense match in which both sides struggled in attack, despite knowing that England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia had already raised the stakes in Group L and made this fixture a key chance to strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.

The decisive move began with Antoine Semenyo driving forward on a rapid counter, slipping a pass into Brandon Thomas-Asante, whose low cross from the right reached Yirenkyi free inside the six-yard box, and the forward calmly tapped in to trigger loud celebrations among the Ghana supporters behind the goal.

Thomas-Asante, who recently helped Coventry City win promotion to the Premier League, came off the bench and changed the rhythm of Ghana’s play, providing more movement in the final third and ultimately delivering the assist that spared Carlos Queiroz’s side from what had seemed an imminent goalless stalemate.

Across the 90 minutes plus stoppage time, Ghana created fewer openings than expected for a team containing Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, managing only one attempt in the first half and finishing with seven shots overall, while Panama produced 11 efforts yet found Lawrence Ati Zigi and some wasteful finishing blocking their route.

Expected goals data underlined the pattern, with Ghana recording an xG of 1.25 compared with Panama’s 0.75, a narrow edge that matched the scoreline and highlighted that Queiroz’s team were far from dominant, especially before Thomas-Asante’s introduction sharpened their attacking play in the closing stages.

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Ghana’s slow start continued an unwanted trend, as their single first-half effort matched the lowest shot tally by any side before the interval at this World Cup, level with France’s record against Senegal, with centre-back Jonas Adjetey surprisingly emerging as their most threatening presence from set-pieces.

Ghana vs Panama: Key moments at Toronto Stadium

Panama almost struck inside two minutes when Amir Murillo swung in a dangerous cross that Cecilio Waterman met first time, but Ati Zigi reacted sharply and clawed the ball away, producing arguably the most important save of the first half and preventing Ghana from chasing the game early.

Chances remained scarce before the break, with Jiovany Ramos drilling one effort over the crossbar, while at the other end Elisha Owusu’s attempt flew off target as Ghana failed to register a shot on goal, leaving both teams frustrated and the contest goalless at half-time.

Ghana finally tested Orlando Mosquera in the 48th minute when Adjetey’s header forced the Panama goalkeeper into action, yet it was Panama who then created the clearer opportunities, as Cristian Martinez hit the side-netting from close range and Ramos continued to drive forward from defence.

Ramos produced a crucial sliding intervention to stop Ayew from turning in another dangerous Thomas-Asante cross and then almost scored himself, curling a shot from the edge of the penalty area just wide of the left post, as Panama briefly looked likelier to take all three points.

Ghana vs Panama: History made by Yirenkyi’s stoppage-time strike

Yirenkyi’s finish, officially timed at 94 minutes and four seconds, became Ghana’s latest goal in any World Cup match, surpassing Asamoah Gyan’s dramatic effort against the United States in June 2010, which came at 92 minutes and 38 seconds and had previously held that record.

That moment also extended Panama’s wait for a first World Cup point, maintaining a difficult record for the Central American side at FIFA’s main international tournament, while giving the Black Stars an important platform before tougher Group L assignments, despite concerns about overall attacking sharpness.

Despite the dramatic finish, Ghana’s staff and players will recognise that improvement is needed in the attacking phase, as the team narrowly avoided recording a first goalless draw at a World Cup and must find greater creativity and consistency in the final third for the remaining Group L fixtures.