Jordan James nets Wales to crucial World Cup qualifying triumph over the Liechtenstein national team.
Wales secured a tight 1-0 victory against underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their hopes of World Cup finals qualification.
The young midfielder notched his maiden goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and students had defended for over an hour. The scorer celebrated in joy with his clear emotion shared by the large contingent of Wales supporters packed into three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.
Shortly after, though, Jordan James was cautioned and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are unavailable for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents through suspension.
The Wales' ground fixture is a clash Wales have to secure victory in to overtake North Macedonia and guarantee a more favourable position in the final round in next spring.
Bellamy had an unusual view from the dugout, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after being shown a further caution in the tournament previously.
Bellamy’s assistant Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the last group game. A pair came unstuck in incidents that might hamper Wales.
Liechtenstein, situated 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their six qualifying defeats and allowed twenty-three goals at an average of almost four per match.
The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein lay in a low defensive block and packed their defence.
The home goal was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead chasing down won possession and James saw his shot from the penalty area parried by Benjamin BĂĽchel.
The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan locating his teammate this time with a accurate ball over the top.
Broadhead’s fine touch evaded the keeper but the attacker could not convert from a narrow position.
The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when James headed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.
Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were cut short when the match official was instructed to the VAR screen and decided that a player of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.
The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Thomas sent in a ball to the opposite side which James hit the woodwork.
Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like one of those nights for Wales.
But, with the match having ticked into its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd assist for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.
James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent ball across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the simple opportunity of easing Wales' nerves.