Jordan James nets Wales to important World Cup qualifying victory against Liechtenstein.
Wales secured a tight 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup progress.
Wales' James notched his debut international strike for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, office workers and students had defended for over an hour. James ran off in joy with his obvious relief shared by the 3,000 Wales supporters filling most sections of the venue in the capital.
Soon afterwards, though, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with their next opponents through suspension.
That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.
Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy serving a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the competition previously.
Bellamy’s number two Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the concluding match. A pair came unstuck in moments that could really hurt their team.
Liechtenstein, situated among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and allowed 23 times at an average of around four per game.
Wales unsurprisingly had most of the play as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.
Their opponent's target saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down won possession and Jordan James saw his effort from the edge of the box pushed aside by BĂĽchel.
That pairing worked the next opening, James finding his teammate now with a well-weighted delivery over the top.
The attacker's excellent first touch beat BĂĽchel but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.
The Welsh team believed they'd taken the lead after the first half when James nodded a high Thomas corner back into a congested six-yard box.
The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' elation were cut short when the official was sent to the pitchside monitor and ruled that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an offside from Jordan's initial touch.
The visitors increased the pressure after the interval and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which James struck the frame of the goal.
Neco Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for Wales.
Yet, with the match having reached its second half, Williams executed a clever pass for his teammate to break behind the home defence.
Daniel James bypassed BĂĽchel with a excellent pass across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy job of relieving Welsh nerves.
