CALEB Yirenkyi scored a stoppage-time winner to earn Ghana a 1-0 win over Panama in a chilly and lively World Cup clash in the early hours of today in which the African side were forced to play the second half without starting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.
After a lightning-quick counter-attack, Brandon Thomas-Asante charged forward before playing a precise pass into the area for Yirenkyi, who tapped home in the fifth minute of extra time for his first competitive international goal.
Panama, bolstered by a vociferous red-clad contingent of supporters, were energetic, purposeful and threatening in the final third while Ghana were unable to find their rhythm until the second half when the tables turned.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Panama, whose only other appearance in the finals ended at the group stage in 2018, had nothing to show for their efforts and their loss left them with work to do.
Ati Zigi was by far Ghana’s best player in the first half, commanding his area impressively while his teammates were unable to manage a single attempt on the Panama goal, but he did not come out for the second half after a collision.
Shortly after a hydration break that was loudly booed by spectators as light rain fell, Panama threw everything they could at the Ghana goal but failed to find a way through.
Panama demanded a penalty after Cristian Martinez went down in the box but their claims that there was contact from Jerome Opoku did not convince the referee.
Ati Zigi received treatment following a collision near the end of the first half and was replaced by Benjamin Asare when the game started to open up and Ghana found their stride.
Panama nearly opened the scoring in the 60th minute but Martinez lashed his attempt from close range into the side-netting from a tight angle and Jonas Adjetey almost scored for Ghana when he rose high to meet a cross with a header that forced a smart stop from Orlando Mosquera.
Earlier, last night, in the same group, Harry Kane struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford delivered the knockout blows as England survived a back-and-forth battle to beat Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup campaign in a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing.
The Group L meeting carried heavy expectations long before kic-koff, given the history between the sides, with Croatia’s extra-time victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals adding an extra edge to the occasion.
The match at Dallas Stadium more than delivered as Croatia twice hauled themselves level to keep England in check before Bellingham rose to the occasion with England’s third goal in the 47th minute and then Rashford put the game away with an 85th-minute strike.
Bellingham put England decisively in front when he surged down the right with a powerful run before guiding his finish low across goal, the ball kissing the post on its way in. He raised his arms wide in his trademark celebration.
Then Bukayo Saka found fellow second-half substitute Rashford, who calmly slotted home.
The 32-year-old Kane, who arrived at the World Cup shouldering heavy expectations after a brilliant season at Bayern Munich, had opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box by Croatia’s 40-year-old Luka Modric.
Dominik Livakovic saved Kane’s first effort but was ruled to have moved off his line early and Kane made no mistake with the retake, driving a firm shot into the right corner and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
But Martin Baturina equalised in the 36th minute, whipping a shot into the corner with pace and precision that Jordan Pickford got a hand on but could not keep out.
The goal ended a string of 10 straight shutouts in competitive matches for England.
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England’s captain Kane put the Three Lions back on top in the 42nd minute to draw level with Gary Lineker’s World Cup goalscoring record of 10 goals for England.
Croatia inexplicably left Kane unmarked at a corner and when Declan Rice’s delivery dropped invitingly into the area, the striker timed his jump perfectly to steer a header down into the bottom corner for his 81st goal for England.
But England’s joy was short-lived as Croatia struck seconds before the break, when Ivan Perisic’s deft header allowed Petar Musa to run on and slot the ball home.
Despite the final result, England’s defensive frailties were laid bare as they conceded twice through avoidable errors against Croatia, raising serious questions about their organisation at the back.
Poor decision-making twice allowed Croatia back into the game, leaving a visibly furious Thomas Tuchel stomping down the tunnel to the dressing room at halftime while at the end of the second half Kane made a goal-line block deep in added time to stop Josko Gvardiol’s shot.
England next face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, and then finish the group stage against Panama on June 27.
RESULTS
Ghana 1-0 Panama
Uzbekistan 1-3 Uzbekistan
England 4-2
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Agency reports
