Jordan James scores Wales to crucial World Cup win against the Liechtenstein national team.

The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 success against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup qualifying.

The young midfielder claimed his maiden international strike for Wales from close range after the home side's mix of professionals, office workers and part-timers had resisted for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in elation with his visible excitement mirrored by the 3,000 Welsh fans occupying multiple stands of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was cautioned and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

That Wales' ground fixture is a clash Wales have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and obtain a improved draw in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an unusual perspective from the dugout, the head coach serving a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's assistant his assistant took his place in the technical area and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, placed near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their previous six losses and conceded twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per match.

The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

The home goal was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead pressing forced an error and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding Broadhead now with a precise pass behind the defence.

Broadhead’s superb touch took him past Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a narrow position.

Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when James nodded a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh joy were cut short when the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor and decided that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside from James’s initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a centering pass to the back post which James struck the woodwork.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the contest having entered its 61st minute, Williams executed a shrewd pass for Daniel James to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James cut out Büchel with a delightful pass across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy job of ending Wales' tension.

James Cunningham
James Cunningham

A passionate photographer and writer dedicated to capturing the raw beauty of the human form and natural landscapes.