Yirenkyi strikes at the death, Ghana beat Panama 1–0

Yirenkyi wins it in the 95th

Ghana 1–0 Panama. Caleb Yirenkyi scored deep into stoppage time to give your team three massive points in the World Cup Group L opener in Toronto (1) (2) (3) (5). The goal came in the 95th minute, Yirenkyi receiving the ball in the box and finishing past the keeper (5) (13). "I ran forward and looked to see what would happen. Then I got the ball in the penalty area and put it away," Yirenkyi said afterwards (1) (6).

Thomas Partey was absent. Canadian authorities denied him a visa over the sexual assault allegations he faces in the UK, and the Ghanaian government has filed a legal challenge to overturn that decision (background). On the pitch, your team did not need him. Lawrence Ati Zigi kept a clean sheet, and Ghana take control of Group L alongside England, who beat their own opponents earlier (12).

This is only the second time Ghana have ever won their opening World Cup match (Reddit).

Semenyo on Guardiola: "He taught me so much"

Antoine Semenyo spent six months working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and he is not shy about the impact. "Guardiola taught me a great deal," Semenyo told Dutch outlet Voetbal International. "He sees football differently. The way he analyses opponents, the way he prepares training, it is at another level" (9).

No club at club level for Semenyo to discuss right now, his focus is the World Cup. But the Guardiola education is paying dividends.

Fan reactions

The Reddit threads are euphoric. Ghana went winless in their last seven matches before this, six losses and one draw, so the stoppage-time winner landed like a release valve. "Incredible run, incredible goal," one fan posted, and the goal clip thread drew hundreds of comments within minutes (Reddit). After seven winless games, this feels like a reset. Watch the Yirenkyi goal here.