The young midfielder James fires Wales to crucial World Cup triumph against Liechtenstein.
The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup qualifying.
The young midfielder notched his maiden international strike for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had defended for more than 60 minutes. The scorer ran off in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the 3,000 Welsh fans occupying three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.
Soon afterwards, yet, James was cautioned and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.
The home venue match is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable draw in the final round in next spring.
Bellamy had an different vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager undertaking a sideline suspension after being shown a second yellow card in the competition earlier.
The manager's deputy Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and several key players – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the concluding match. A pair came unstuck in situations that may damage Wales.
The home side, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per match.
The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.
Their opponent's target saw little action until the forward's high press caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line saved by BĂĽchel.
A similar move worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a accurate ball over the top.
Broadhead’s fine touch took him past the keeper but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a difficult angle.
Wales felt they scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James headed a lofted Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.
The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were cut short when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and ruled that one or more of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.
The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the crossbar.
Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.
Yet, with the match having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams played a intelligent pass for Daniel James to run past the opposition backline.
Daniel James bypassed BĂĽchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of easing Welsh anxiety.
