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The Welsh side secured a hard-fought 1-0 success over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup qualifying.

Jordan James claimed his maiden international strike for the national team from near the goal after the home side's group of professionals, office workers and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his obvious relief echoed by the three thousand Wales supporters packed into most sections of the stadium in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, James was cautioned and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

The Wales' ground match is a game Wales have to secure victory in to overtake North Macedonia and secure a more favourable seeding in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a touchline ban after being shown a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's number two Cremers took his place in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in moments that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had not scored in their winless run and let in twenty-three times at an average of nearly four per fixture.

The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as Liechtenstein adopted a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead high press forced an error and James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by the goalkeeper.

That pairing created another chance, James finding Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted delivery into space.

The attacker's superb touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a tight angle.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after the opening period when James headed a deep Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were cut short when the referee was directed to the video review system and determined that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a centering pass to the far post which James struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the penalty box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

But, with the match having reached its second half, Neco Williams executed a shrewd assist for Daniel James to get in behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the easy opportunity of easing Wales' tension.