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Wales claimed a tight 1-0 success over international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James claimed his debut goal for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, office workers and students had held out for over an hour. James ran off in joy with his clear emotion mirrored by the three thousand Welsh supporters filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was booked and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

That Wales' ground match is a game Wales need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a improved position in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an different view from the dugout, the head coach completing a technical area prohibition after picking up a second yellow card in the tournament last month.

The manager's number two Piet Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the last group game. Two of them received cautions in moments that might hamper their team.

Their opponents, ranked near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and conceded twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.

The home goal was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his shot from the 18-yard line saved by Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James finding Broadhead now with a accurate delivery over the top.

The attacker's excellent control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was directed to the video review system and decided that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the interval and Sorba Thomas provided a centering pass to the opposite side which James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the penalty box as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the match having reached its second half, Williams delivered a intelligent pass for Daniel James to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent pass along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward task of ending Welsh tension.