🔗 Share this article

The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their hopes of World Cup progress.

Wales' James scored his maiden goal for Wales from near the goal after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in elation with his visible excitement mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh fans occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Moments later, yet, James was cautioned and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are ruled out for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia due to suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the head coach undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the competition previously.

Bellamy’s number two 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 missing the last group game. Two of them received cautions in moments that may damage their team.

Their opponents, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an average of nearly four per game.

Wales predictably had most of the play as their hosts adopted a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, James locating his teammate now with a accurate delivery behind the defence.

Broadhead’s fine control beat Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after the first half when James directed a lofted Thomas corner back into a congested goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas delivered a cross to the back post which Daniel James struck the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

But, with the game having reached its second half, Williams delivered a intelligent through ball for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James cut out Büchel with a superb cross across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of relieving Welsh tension.