Ghana's Black Stars had their tails up and were purring like a well-oiled machine as they ripped open the World Cup qualifying stage with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Panama at the Lincoln Financial Field. But it was Caleb Yirenkyi who stole the show, scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time to send shivers down the spines of the opposition and secure three precious points for his side.
The Ghanaian team were given a major boost when Brandon Thomas-Asante's lightning-fast counter-attack set up Yirenkyi for a tap-in that proved to be the difference between the two sides. It was the striker's first competitive international goal, and what a way to make it count!
Ghana were dealt a massive blow just before half-time when starting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi picked up an injury in a collision with an opponent. The Swiss-based stopper had been putting on a masterclass performance, producing crucial saves to keep his side ahead.
But despite the setback, Ghana's bench was up for the challenge and they produced another quality display to see out the game. Key midfielder Thomas Partey was conspicuous by his absence after being denied entry into Canada due to visa issues, but that didn't seem to faze the Black Stars as they showed great resilience and determination to emerge victorious.
Panama, on the other hand, were a different story altogether. They were given an almighty scare by their opponents' clinical finishing and had to settle for a point less than what they deserved. The Panamanians created plenty of chances, with Cecilio Waterman and Cristian Martinez going close, but ultimately came up short.
The result sets the stage for an intriguing showdown between Ghana and England in Boston on June 23. Both teams will be looking to strengthen their grip on top spot in Group L, while Panama will be hoping to bounce back from this narrow defeat when they face Croatia in Toronto on the same day.