'An ugly way to lose' - Panama coach Christiansen reacts to last-gasp defeat against Ghana

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen has expressed his disappointment after his side suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Ghana in their opening Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto.

The Central Americans appeared on course to secure a valuable point after a disciplined performance against the four-time African champions.

However, their resistance was broken deep into stoppage time when midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi struck in the 95th minute to hand Ghana all three points.

Speaking after the match, Christiansen admitted that the manner of the defeat was particularly painful given his team's strong display for much of the contest.

"The truth is that it's an ugly way to lose. We played a good first half, controlling the game and taking it to our territory," the Spanish-Danish tactician said.

Panama dominated large portions of the opening half and limited Ghana's attacking opportunities.

However, the Black Stars grew into the game after the break, with several substitutions helping to shift the momentum in their favour.

Christiansen pointed to the decisive moment that led to Ghana's winner, highlighting defensive mistakes in the build-up. During the move, defender Jose Cordoba slid in unsuccessfully to challenge a Ghanaian attacker, allowing the move to continue down the flank before the eventual cross that resulted in Yirenkyi's goal.

Reflecting on the incident, the Panama coach stressed the need for greater determination and game management in critical moments.

"What happened in that last play of the goal, we have to learn that we must go in with more attitude. We had opportunities to commit fouls, stop the plays and we didn't do it," Christiansen explained.

The former international also criticised the decision-making in the defensive challenge that preceded the goal.

"If you go to the ground, it's because you take the ball or stop it there. But in the end, you have to get up and gather strength for the next match against Croatia," he added.

Despite the defeat, Christiansen urged his players to quickly move on from the disappointment and focus on their upcoming Group L clash against Croatia on June 23.

A positive result in that encounter will be crucial if Panama are to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

The dramatic victory marked a perfect start for the Black Stars to their World Cup campaign, while Panama were left to reflect on what might have been after conceding one of the latest goals of the tournament so far.