Wales' Jordan James fires Wales to crucial World Cup victory versus Liechtenstein.
The Welsh side claimed a narrow 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualifying.
Wales' James claimed his debut goal for Wales from near the goal after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had held out for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in delight with his obvious relief mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh supporters filling most sections of the venue in Vaduz.
Moments later, though, James was cautioned and another booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through suspension.
The home venue match is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog North Macedonia and secure a more favourable draw in the playoffs in March.
Bellamy had an unusual perspective from the sidelines, the head coach serving a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the tournament last month.
The manager's deputy Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in incidents that might hamper their team.
The home side, situated 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded 23 goals at an average of around four per fixture.
Wales predictably had most of the play as their hosts adopted a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.
The home goal remained unthreatened until the forward's high press caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by BĂĽchel.
A similar move crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out his teammate on this occasion with a accurate ball over the top.
Broadhead’s superb touch beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a difficult angle.
Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after the first half when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas corner back into a congested goal area.
The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and ruled that a player of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.
The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the back post which Daniel James hit the frame of the goal.
Neco Williams then headed wide from within the six-yard box as it began to look like a frustrating evening for Wales.
Yet, with the game having ticked into its final half-hour, Neco Williams played a shrewd assist for Daniel James to get in behind the Liechtenstein defenders.
Daniel James bypassed BĂĽchel with a superb cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward job of ending Welsh anxiety.