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Wales claimed a tight 1-0 victory over international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualifying.

Jordan James claimed his maiden international strike for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his obvious relief shared by the large contingent of Wales fans occupying three sides of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was booked and another yellow for Ethan Ampadu ensured the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

The Wales' ground fixture is a game the Welsh team need to win to overtake North Macedonia and obtain a improved position in the final round in March.

The Wales manager had an different perspective from the sidelines, Bellamy serving a touchline ban after being shown a additional booking in the competition previously.

The manager's assistant Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in moments that could really hurt their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their previous six losses and conceded twenty-three goals at an rate of almost four per game.

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

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until Broadhead pressing forced an error and Jordan James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, James picking out Broadhead now with a accurate ball over the top.

The attacker's excellent touch took him past the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

The Welsh team thought they had taken the lead after 26 minutes when James nodded a deep Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and determined that a player of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from Jordan's header.

The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a cross to the far post which James rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from within the penalty box as it started to seem like a difficult match for Wales.

However, with the game having entered its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever assist for his teammate to get in behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a delightful ball across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy opportunity of easing Wales' nerves.