Wales' Jordan James fires the Welsh team to vital World Cup triumph over the Liechtenstein national team.
The Welsh side earned a narrow 1-0 win against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup qualifying.
Jordan James scored his debut goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James ran off in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the large contingent of Wales fans occupying multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.
Moments later, however, Jordan James was cautioned and a further yellow for his midfield partner means the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.
That Wales' ground contest is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog their rivals and secure a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.
Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager serving a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the competition previously.
The manager's assistant Piet Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in situations that might hamper their team.
Their opponents, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed twenty-three goals at an rate of almost four per game.
Wales predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.
Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.
A similar move created another chance, Jordan finding his teammate on this occasion with a well-weighted pass over the top.
The attacker's fine control evaded the keeper but the attacker could not convert from a narrow position.
Wales thought they had broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a congested penalty box.
The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s initial touch.
The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the far post which Daniel James struck the frame of the goal.
Williams then directed his header off target from inside the penalty box as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.
However, with the match having ticked into its final half-hour, Neco Williams played a clever assist for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.
James beat the goalkeeper with a excellent ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the simple opportunity of easing Welsh tension.