🔗 Share this article

Wales secured a narrow 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their hopes of World Cup progress.

Jordan James scored his first international strike for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James celebrated in joy with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Welsh fans occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, yet, James was booked and another late caution for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s decisive game with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue fixture is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and secure a better position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the stands, Bellamy completing a sideline suspension after receiving a additional booking in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers took his place in the technical area and several key players – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the concluding match. Two of them received cautions in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had failed to score in their winless run and let in 23 goals at an average of almost four per game.

The visitors as expected controlled the ball as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead chasing down won possession and Jordan James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

A similar move worked the next opening, Jordan locating Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted delivery over the top.

The attacker's superb 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 Jordan James nodded a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' elation were cut short when the official was directed to the VAR screen and ruled that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the opposite side which James hit the woodwork.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the goal area as it began to look like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the game having ticked into its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

James beat Büchel with a excellent pass along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward task of ending Wales' nerves.