A late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi gave Ghana a 1-0 win over Panama as they joined England at the top of Group L. Yirenkyi steered in Brandon Thomas-Asante’s cross in stoppage time to settle a match of few clear chances. Cecilio Waterman forced a good save from Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi in the second minute as he latched on to a cross from the right, but it was a rare opening in a cagey first half in the Toronto rain.
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Harry Kane’s brace helped England to a pulsating 4-2 victory against Croatia as Thomas Tuchel’s side made a breathless start to their quest for World Cup glory. The back-to-back European Championship finalists are among the favourites for glory in North America and played out a helter-skelter Group L opener at the Dallas Cowboys’ remarkable AT&T Stadium.
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Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa scored the equaliser as the DR Congo frustrated Portugal at the start of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup campaign. Wissa put aside the frustration of his injury-hit first season on Tyneside as he headed home to secure a 1-1 draw under a closed roof at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Joao Neves had put Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, ahead after just six minutes but they were unable to build on their strong start as DR Congo fought back in the Group K opener.
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Austria claimed their first World Cup victory since 1990 with a 3-1 win against debutants Jordan. Two late goals at the home of the San Francisco 49ers helped Ralf Rangnick’s side make the perfect start in Group J after Ali Olwan had equalised with Jordan’s first World Cup goal.
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Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals with a hat-trick as Argentina began their title defence with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City. Messi’s second took him level with Brazil great Ronaldo on 15 goals across his six World Cup appearances. He was denied in a one-on-one by Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane and had a penalty appeal turned down before joining Germany’s Klose in a share of the record.
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