Even as the clock was slowly winding down in the sweltering heat of Azerbaijan, Daniel James continued to run.
As Turkey advanced up the pitch, Wales found themselves encircled in their own box, seated deep and banging the ball far away as if it were about to explode if they hung on any longer.
There was little love for the ball with ten minutes between Rob Page's side and a win that would all but guarantee qualification to the knockout phases of the European Championship, with Manchester United winger James being one of the few exceptions.
Even though he was out of gas, he continued to run, pacing down the left flank like a relay runner who had just been handed the baton. This altruistic move once again demonstrated why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adores him at Manchester United.
There's always that additional piece of concern for a player you signed yourself, and the fact that James was Solskjaer's first at United is one of the reasons he holds him in such high regard.
But such admiration extends far beyond the fact that he arrived under the Norwegian's tutelage, and despite his obvious weaknesses, the Welshman remains a fixture in matchday teams.
The Welsh winger is no longer a teenager at the age of 23, but he is still learning his trade only two years after arriving at Old Trafford, with last season being his third in senior football.
Perhaps Solskjaer has a greater understanding because he is in the same boat as his first signing. Both are relative newcomers who have shown promise, both have problems, but both are giving it their all while on the job. It's a quality you should admire.
In the years following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, United swiftly became a lucrative target for mercenaries; instead, James exemplifies a cultural shift in which hard work is rewarded and team togetherness is prioritized.
It may sound trite, but Solskjaer knows he can rely on James to give his all whenever he steps onto the pitch; he seldom leaves the field without looking exhausted after putting his body on the line for the better good of his team.
The former Swansea winger also has the added benefit of his athleticism and lightning speed, two characteristics that make him difficult to defend against for any full-back. Even with all of the technical study and attention to detail that goes into football, there is still very little a defense can do when up against someone as quick as James.
Unlike the other forwards fighting for a starting spot at Old Trafford, none have the Welshman's quickness and constant threat on the break, nor his ability to draw fouls from frustrated opponents; those are the reasons why he deserves to remain in the first-team squad.
But, of course, he is not without flaws.
Even though he put in a lot of effort for Wales in their 2-0 win over Turkey, he could have put the game away early had he displayed poise in the final third to match his aggressive left-wing run with the cross needed to tee up an unmarked teammate in the middle.
Instead, his scuffed cross sailed harmlessly across the box and out for a throw-in. There is much more work to be done.
With the expected arrival of Jadon Sancho in the coming weeks, James' chances of regular playing time in the coming season remain slim, but if he were to become available, he wouldn't be short of top-flight admirers.
It's impossible to deny that James isn't the superstar winger that many supporters seek, but instead of focusing on what he can't do, it's crucial to focus on what he can.
Is this a skill with flaws? Yes. Nonetheless, a talent.
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