Wales' Jordan James nets Wales to vital World Cup qualifying triumph against Liechtenstein.
The Welsh side claimed a narrow 1-0 win against underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals progress.
The young midfielder notched his debut international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had held out for over an hour. The scorer wheeled away in joy with his clear emotion echoed by the large contingent of Wales supporters occupying most sections of the stadium in Vaduz.
Moments later, yet, James was booked and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s decisive game with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.
That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a game Wales need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.
Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after being shown a additional booking in the competition earlier.
The manager's assistant his assistant took his place in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in incidents that may damage their team.
The home side, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had failed to score in their winless run and allowed twenty-three times at an rate of almost four per fixture.
The visitors predictably dominated possession as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.
Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his shot from the penalty area pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.
The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding Broadhead now with a well-weighted pass over the top.
The attacker's superb first touch beat Büchel but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a tight angle.
Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James directed a deep Thomas set-piece back into a crowded six-yard box.
The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the referee was directed to the video review system and decided that a player of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s initial touch.
Wales raised the tempo after the break and Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which Daniel James hit the woodwork.
Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it began to look like one of those nights for the Welsh side.
Yet, with the contest having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams played a shrewd through ball for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.
James cut out Büchel with a delightful pass along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the simple job of relieving Welsh anxiety.