🔗 Share this article

The Welsh side secured a hard-fought 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup progress.

Wales' James scored his first goal for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had resisted for over an hour. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh followers packed into most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for the upcoming decisive game with their next opponents through accumulated bookings.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a clash Wales must win to leapfrog their rivals and obtain a more favourable draw in the final round in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual perspective from the dugout, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after being shown a further caution in the competition earlier.

The manager's assistant Piet Cremers took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the concluding match. A pair were booked in situations that may damage their team.

Liechtenstein, placed among the lowest-ranked in world football, had not scored in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of around four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly dominated possession as their hosts lay in a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal was rarely tested until Broadhead pressing forced an error and Jordan James saw his shot from the 18-yard line pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

The same combination worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead now with a accurate pass behind the defence.

The attacker's fine first touch evaded the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after 26 minutes when Jordan James nodded a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were cut short when the referee was directed to the video review system and determined that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales raised the tempo after the interval and Thomas provided a ball to the opposite side which the winger hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it appeared like one of those nights for Wales.

Yet, with the match having reached its 61st minute, Neco Williams played a shrewd pass for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a superb cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the easy job of relieving Wales' anxiety.