A tournament that has already delivered a string of defiant draws by underdogs gained its latest late drama in Toronto on Wednesday, as Ghana snatched a 1-0 victory over Panama with a goal deep into stoppage time. Caleb Yirenkyi’s tap-in at the end of a lightning counter-attack settled a tense Group L opener that had seemed destined to become the first goalless stalemate of this World Cup. The result lifts the Black Stars to second in the group behind England and extends Africa’s encouraging start to the competition, while Panama are left to rue a familiar lack of cutting edge on the grandest stage.

For long stretches, the contest was a study in frustration. Panama, coached by Thomas Christiansen, began with intent and might have taken the lead inside two minutes, when Cecilio Waterman’s close-range effort was repelled by Lawrence Ati Zigi. The Ghanaian goalkeeper was forced off at half-time through injury, yet his replacement held firm as the Central Americans continued to dictate possession and territory without converting pressure into clear chances. A steady rain after the interval did little to raise the technical level, and as the match drifted toward a stalemate, both sides appeared to be settling for a point that would have been Panama’s first in World Cup history.

The decisive moment arrived in the fifth minute of added time. Brandon Thomas-Asante surged down the left flank and rolled a precise pass across the six-yard box, where the 20-year-old Yirenkyi arrived unmarked to bundle the ball home. The goal triggered euphoria among the thousands of Ghanaian supporters in Canada’s largest city and vindicated the tactical patience preached by coach Carlos Queiroz, who later remarked that his team had “won the game with our brains.” Viewed from Accra, the victory matches Nigeria’s record as the second African win of this World Cup, following Côte d’Ivoire’s defeat of Ecuador, and adds to a series of impressive draws secured by the continent’s sides against established powers.

For Panama, the defeat carries a heavier burden. Having lost all three matches on their debut in 2018, the Canaleros again find themselves without a point and now face the daunting prospect of back-to-back meetings with Croatia and England. Analysts in Latin America note that Christiansen’s side had identified this fixture as their best chance to build a case for reaching the knockout rounds, perhaps as one of the best third-placed teams. Instead, they must now chase results against the group’s European heavyweights, a task made all the more arduous by the psychological blow of conceding so late.

Looking ahead, the group dynamics have sharpened considerably. Ghana travel to Boston to face an England side that dismantled Croatia 4-2 earlier in the day, a match that will test whether Queiroz’s cerebral approach can withstand a more ruthless attacking unit. Panama remain in Toronto to meet a wounded Croatia, knowing that another defeat would all but extinguish their hopes. In a tournament already rich with late twists, Group L has been given an early injection of tension that promises to reverberate well beyond the opening round.