Jordan James scores Wales to important World Cup win against the Liechtenstein national team.
Wales earned a hard-fought 1-0 success over international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup qualifying.
Wales' James claimed his first goal for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in joy with his visible excitement mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh followers filling multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.
Moments later, though, Jordan James was booked and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through suspension.
The home venue fixture is a game Wales need to win to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a improved position in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.
The Wales manager had an different perspective from the stands, the head coach completing a sideline suspension after picking up a second yellow card in the qualifiers earlier.
Bellamy’s assistant Piet Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in moments that might hamper Wales.
The home side, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and let in twenty-three times at an average of around four per match.
Wales predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a compact shape and packed their defence.
The home goal saw little action until the forward's high press caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box pushed aside by Benjamin BĂĽchel.
That pairing created another chance, James locating his teammate now with a accurate delivery behind the defence.
The attacker's excellent first touch evaded BĂĽchel but the forward failed to finish from a difficult angle.
The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the opening period when James directed a high Thomas set-piece back into a packed six-yard box.
Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and ruled that one or more of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.
Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas sent in a ball to the opposite side which the winger struck the crossbar.
Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the goal area as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.
Yet, with the contest having entered its second half, Williams played a shrewd assist for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.
James bypassed the goalkeeper with a superb ball across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the simple task of ending Wales' tension.
