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Wales earned a hard-fought 1-0 success against underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder scored his first goal for Wales from near the goal after the home side's mix of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in joy with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Wales fans filling multiple stands of the venue in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for his midfield partner means the pair are ruled out for Tuesday’s decisive game with North Macedonia through suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and obtain a improved draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the sidelines, the head coach completing a touchline ban after picking up a additional booking in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's number two his assistant assumed duties in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in situations that may damage Wales.

Their opponents, situated near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their previous six losses and allowed twenty-three goals at an rate of almost four per fixture.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein lay in a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

That pairing created another chance, James finding his teammate now with a accurate ball behind the defence.

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

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the opening period when James directed a deep Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' joy were halted when the match official was sent to the video review system and decided that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas sent in a cross to the back post which the winger struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it appeared like one of those nights for Wales.

Yet, with the contest having reached its final half-hour, Neco Williams played a clever assist for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

James beat the goalkeeper with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of relieving Welsh tension.