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Wales secured a tight 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James notched his maiden international strike for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, office workers and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his clear emotion shared by the large contingent of Welsh supporters occupying multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Soon afterwards, though, James was booked and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.

That Wales' ground contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and obtain a better seeding in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the sidelines, the Wales manager undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu were booked in situations that may damage Wales.

The home side, situated near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and let in twenty-three goals at an average of nearly four per match.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

The home goal saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing created another chance, Jordan picking out Broadhead this time with a precise ball over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent control took him past Büchel but the forward could not convert from a tight angle.

Wales felt they taken the lead after 26 minutes when James headed a high Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the referee was sent to the video review system and ruled that at least one of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the interval and Thomas provided a cross to the far post which Daniel James struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it appeared like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the game having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams executed a intelligent through ball for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward opportunity of relieving Welsh nerves.