Cymru v Liechtenstein
Friday 6th June 2025
Cardiff City Stadium
World Cup Qualifier, Group J
A warm early summer night saw Cymru, ranked 29th in the world, take on 205th (out of 210 countries) Liechtenstein. The away side are sandwiched between Bahamas and one place below them Turks and Caicos Islands. An easy game on paper but unfortunately its played on grass and it led to a frustrating first half.
Changes were made by Craig Bellamy for this match with Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu, Liam Cullen, Kieffer Moore and Conner Roberts all returning, with Josh Sheehan, Jordan James, Nathan Broadhead and Chris Mepham moved to the bench.
Sorba Thomas spent the first forty minutes flying past the Liechtenstein defenders as if it was me playing for them and I’m 50 next month, an overweight asthmatic with two dodgy knees. Unfortunately Sorba could not find the right cross to break the deadlock. Wave and wave of attack with the visitors hardly touching the ball, never mind creating chances.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was no fear amongst the 30,646 crowd that Liechtenstein would sneak a goal, but there was growing frustration we were heading into half time with the score still 0-0. Nerves were finally settled with under five minutes to go in the first half.
A corner was given by the referee when the ball clearly came off Ben Davies for a goal kick. No one in Y Wal Goch cared one bit, decisions like that one normally go against Cymru with the opponent ultimately scoring. The corner was taken by Sorba Thomas, whose in-swinging corner was met by the head of Joe Rodon from 6 yards out, to score his first ever goal for Cymru, much to the relief of Y Wal Goch.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe second half started the same as the first, only this time it was Johnston instead of Thomas whose turn it was to easily beat the Liechtenstein defence, without being able to get that right final ball into the box. But things changed when Craig Bellamy made a triple substitution with just over an hour to go.
One of the substitutes, Lewis Koumas made an instant impact when 65 minutes into the game he collected a misplaced cross by the left hand corner flag and, after a great piece of skill, he passed to fellow substitute Jay Dasilva. DaSilva’s left footed cross from just outside the corner of the box, was perfectly met the head of Harry Wilson to score from six yards out.
Embed from Getty ImagesFour minutes later the game was put to rest, when another great cross by Liam Cullen landed at the feet of David Brooks, who volleyed towards goal only to see it saved by Benjamin Büchel. Thankfully the rebound fell at the feet of Kieffer Moore who fired home from six yards out.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe match ended with these amazing stats;
Cymru – Liechtenstein
79% Possession 21%
26 Total Shots 0
11 On Target 0
This victory saw Cymru go Top of Group J, with Belgium only drawing with North Macedonia. A perfect evening for Cymru, if not a slightly frustrating half, but 3 points is all that matters.
Words by Stephen @StephenJBaker and photos courtesy of Andrew and James.