🔗 Share this article

Wales earned a tight 1-0 victory against underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup qualifying.

The young midfielder claimed his maiden international strike for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in delight with his obvious relief echoed by the three thousand Welsh fans occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was cautioned and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia through suspension.

That Wales' ground contest is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a more favourable position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual view from the sidelines, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after picking up a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

Bellamy’s number two his assistant took his place in the technical area and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and allowed twenty-three goals at an average of almost four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein lay in a compact shape and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead high press forced an error and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead on this occasion with a precise ball over the top.

Broadhead’s fine touch beat the keeper but the forward failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the match official was sent to the video review system and decided that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside from Jordan's header.

Wales raised the tempo after the interval and Sorba Thomas sent in a centering pass to the opposite side which Daniel James rattled against the woodwork.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like one of those nights for Wales.

But, with the game having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams played a clever assist for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a superb ball into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the simple opportunity of ending Welsh nerves.