🔗 Share this article

The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder claimed his first international strike for the national team from near the goal after the home side's mix of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in joy with his obvious relief mirrored by the three thousand Welsh fans occupying multiple stands of the venue in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and obtain a better seeding in the final round in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the stands, the head coach serving a sideline suspension after being shown a second yellow card in the competition earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Piet Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in incidents that might hamper Wales.

The home side, situated among the lowest-ranked in world football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and conceded 23 times at an average of around four per fixture.

The visitors predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

The home goal remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down forced an error and James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line saved by Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James finding his teammate on this occasion with a accurate pass behind the defence.

The attacker's excellent first touch beat the keeper but the forward could not convert from a tight angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when James directed a lofted Thomas set-piece back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that one or more of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales increased the pressure after the interval and Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then headed wide from within the six-yard box as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having ticked into its 61st minute, Neco Williams executed a intelligent pass for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent ball into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the easy job of ending Welsh anxiety.