The young midfielder James fires the Welsh team to crucial World Cup qualifying triumph over the Liechtenstein national team.
Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.
The young midfielder claimed his first international strike for Wales from inside the box after the home side's group of professionals, office workers and students had held out for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in delight with his clear emotion echoed by the 3,000 Welsh followers occupying most sections of the venue in Vaduz.
Shortly after, yet, James was cautioned and a further late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the pair are ruled out for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.
The Cardiff City Stadium match is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a more favourable position in the qualifying playoffs in March.
Craig Bellamy had an different perspective from the sidelines, the head coach completing a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the tournament earlier.
Bellamy’s assistant his assistant stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the last group game. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in situations that may damage their team.
Their opponents, ranked among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed 23 times at an rate of almost four per fixture.
The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as their hosts lay in a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.
Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.
The same combination created another chance, Jordan picking out his teammate this time with a accurate ball over the top.
The attacker's excellent touch beat Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a difficult angle.
The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after the first half when James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested goal area.
The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were cut short when the match official was directed to the VAR screen and determined that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.
The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which the winger hit the crossbar.
Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it appeared like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.
Yet, with the match having reached its second half, Williams delivered a clever pass for his teammate to get in behind the opposition backline.
James cut out Büchel with a superb ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the easy job of easing Wales' nerves.