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The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 victory over international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup qualification.

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for over an hour. James wheeled away in elation with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Welsh followers filling three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, James was shown a yellow card and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

That home venue fixture is a game the Welsh team must win to overtake North Macedonia and guarantee a improved draw in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unusual perspective from the sidelines, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after being shown a second yellow card in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s number two Cremers took his place in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in situations that may damage their team.

The home side, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had not scored in their previous six losses and let in 23 goals at an average of almost four per fixture.

Wales as expected dominated possession as Liechtenstein employed a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Broadhead pressing forced an error and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, James finding his teammate on this occasion with a accurate pass into space.

The attacker's excellent first touch evaded the keeper but the forward failed to finish from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team felt they scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James headed a lofted Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were halted when the match official was directed to the video review system and decided that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the interval and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the far post which James hit the woodwork.

Williams then directed his header off target from inside the penalty box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

But, with the contest having entered its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever pass for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a delightful ball into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the easy opportunity of relieving Wales' nerves.