GHANA could be without their first choice goalkeeper for next week’s clash with England – after he was forced off at half time before the Black Stars’ late winner.
Norway-based Caleb Yirenki tapped into an empty net from two yards when Coventry’s Brandon Thomas-Asante, whose energy and pace made a huge difference in the last half hour, escaped down the right to send the ball into the six yard box.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
Lawrence Ait-Zigi required treatment during the first half Credit: EPA
Ait-Ziqi was in the wars during the first half Credit: AP
Yirenki could not miss, starting a party among the joyous Ghanaian fans who had made a ferocious racket inside a sodden BDO Field all night.
It was an unlikely climax, and proof of Ghana’s broken-play danger for England, even if Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo struggled to make any impact despite being switched to a central role by boss Carlo Queiroz.
Yet for 95 minutes, the story of the night was all about St Gallen gloveman Lawrence Ait-Zigi.
The keeper had shown his agility with a flying save to foil Panama’s Cecilio Waterman in just the second minute of a rain-lashed Toronto.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
ANGRY ROW
‘Do as I told you’ – Thomas Tuchel and England star in furious row during game
MEGA GUIDE
World Cup 2026 tips: Phase by phase betting predictions
But Ait-Zigi, 29, only lasted 45 minutes before limping off at the break and having to be replaced by international rookie understudy Benjamin Asare for the second half of a game that left England top of Group L on goal difference.
Swiss-based Ait-Zigi went down THREE times for treatment before his enforced departure.
That included a prolonged break after he clattered into Minnesota United’s Carlos Harvey as they both went for a lofted ball into the Ghana box.
It was clear that the keeper was in trouble as he looked to the bench through the latter part of the first half.
WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS
When the interval whistle blew, he was the last off the pitch, moving gingerly and uncomfortably, suffering from the bumps and bruises and what appeared to be a dead leg.
And it was no surprise that he did not return for the second half, with Asare, who plays for Ghana’s biggest club, Hearts of Oak in the capital Accra, coming on.
While Asare is 33 this was just an eighth cap, having made his debut only in 2024.
But if Ait-Zigi is not able to recover, he is likely to be sent into battle against Harry Kane and Co in Boston next week.
Queiroz, parachuted into the job – as Ghana’s SIXTH manager in five years – on a short-term contract just two months ago, and his team looked like strangers as Semenyo touched the ball just EIGHT times in the first half.
But the early Waterman effort was the only one by either side that even threatened the target before the break.
It seemed that not even Captain America – actor Anthony Mackie – could bring this one to life.
The second half WAS better, the players finally responding to the ceaseless noise that came from both sets of fans.
Panama right winger Cristian Martinez hit the side-netting from close range while skipper Jordan Ayew, relegated to League One with Leicester last month, looked certain to slide in a low cross at the back post only for defender Jiovany Ramos to make a vital intervention.
At least Semenyo, switched from an isolated position on the left to a central role after half an hour, was able to get into the game with one shot saved by keeper Orlando Mosquera.
And when Queiroz sent on Thomas-Asante – 13 goals in the Championship this season – they were finally able to stretch the Panama defence.
So it proved in the final few seconds as he outstripped the Panama defence to lay the chance on a plate for Yirenki.
But while the game in Boston will see the Group L pace-setters meet, England’s scouting team will not have been overly worried.
World Cup 2026 – all the info
LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
JattvibeSport have got everything you need for the huge tournament
LATEST NEWS
KEY INFO
VIDEO
TIPS AND BETTING
If you click a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.
