🔗 Share this article

The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup qualification.

The young midfielder claimed his first goal for the national team from close range after the home side's mix of professionals, office workers and part-timers had defended for more than 60 minutes. The scorer ran off in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the three thousand Welsh supporters packed into multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, yet, James was booked and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the pair are unavailable for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

That Wales' ground contest is a game Wales have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and obtain a more favourable seeding in the final round in March.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar perspective from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after picking up a further caution in the competition previously.

The manager's number two Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in incidents that might hamper Wales.

The home side, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in world football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of nearly four per match.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until Broadhead high press forced an error and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan locating his teammate now with a accurate pass into space.

Broadhead’s superb control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and ruled that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the far post which James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from within the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having ticked into its second half, Williams played a clever through ball for Daniel James to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a superb pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy job of easing Welsh tension.