A late penalty from Teboho Mokoena secured South Africa a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atalanta, which keeps alive both sides’ hopes of qualification from Group A. After Patrik Schick headed an early chance wide at the far post, the Czechs – showing five changes from the 2-1 defeat to South Korea, including West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek dropped to the bench – took the lead in the sixth minute.
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Second-half goals from Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz gave Colombia a 3-1 victory over debutants Uzbekistan as the last two teams began their World Cup campaign. Abbosbek Fayzullaev had equalised Daniel Munoz’s first-half opener in Mexico City, but Bayern Munich’s Diaz put them ahead before Campaz’s late header finally saw off a battling Uzbekistan.
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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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