🔗 Share this article

Wales earned a tight 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James scored his first goal for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for over an hour. James ran off in elation with his visible excitement shared by the three thousand Wales followers occupying most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Soon afterwards, though, James was booked and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are ruled out for the upcoming decisive game with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

The Wales' ground match is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a better draw in the final round in March.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers earlier.

The manager's deputy his assistant stood in in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the concluding match. Two of them were booked in situations that may damage their team.

Their opponents, situated near the bottom in global rankings, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 goals at an average of around four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein adopted a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Broadhead high press won possession and James saw his attempt from the penalty area pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

A similar move created another chance, Jordan finding his teammate on this occasion with a accurate ball behind the defence.

Broadhead’s fine touch took him past Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after the first half when Jordan James nodded a high Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the referee was sent to the video review system and decided that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the opposite side which Daniel James rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having ticked into its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd through ball for his teammate to run past the home defence.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a superb ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the easy job of easing Wales' anxiety.