🔗 Share this article

The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 success against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James notched his debut international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for the majority of the match. James ran off in delight with his obvious relief echoed by the large contingent of Welsh fans occupying multiple stands of the venue in the capital.

Soon afterwards, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

That home venue contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a improved draw in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the stands, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after being shown a further caution in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s number two Piet Cremers assumed duties in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the final qualifier. A pair received cautions in moments that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, situated 206 out of 210 teams in world football, had not scored in their previous six losses and let in 23 times at an rate of almost four per match.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, Jordan picking out his teammate this time with a accurate ball behind the defence.

The attacker's fine touch evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were cut short when the referee was sent to the VAR screen and ruled that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas delivered a cross to the opposite side which James hit the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

However, with the match having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams played a intelligent assist for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

James bypassed Büchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of easing Welsh anxiety.