Wales' Jordan James fires the Welsh team to vital World Cup victory versus Liechtenstein.
The Welsh side earned a narrow 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals qualification.
The young midfielder scored his debut goal for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in elation with his obvious relief shared by the large contingent of Wales fans filling most sections of the venue in Vaduz.
Soon afterwards, however, James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for his midfield partner resulted in both midfielders are suspended for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents due to suspension.
That Wales' ground fixture is a encounter Wales must win to move above their rivals and obtain a improved draw in the final round in March.
Bellamy had an different view from the dugout, Bellamy undertaking a touchline ban after being shown a further caution in the tournament last month.
Bellamy’s assistant Cremers took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the last group game. Two of them were booked in moments that might hamper Wales.
Liechtenstein, situated among the lowest-ranked in international football, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed 23 goals at an average of almost four per fixture.
The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts employed a compact shape and defended in numbers.
Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Broadhead high press caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Büchel.
The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out his teammate this time with a accurate pass into space.
Broadhead’s excellent control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a tight angle.
Wales felt they broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas corner back into a packed goal area.
Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the match official was instructed to the VAR screen and decided that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s header.
The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the back post which the winger hit the frame of the goal.
Neco Williams then headed wide from within the penalty box as it appeared like one of those nights for the Welsh side.
However, with the match having ticked into its second half, Williams executed a shrewd assist for Daniel James to get in behind the home defence.
James bypassed Büchel with a superb ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy task of ending Wales' nerves.