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Wales earned a tight 1-0 victory over international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup progress.

Jordan James claimed his maiden goal for Wales from near the goal after the home side's mix of full-time players, office workers and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in elation with his obvious relief shared by the 3,000 Wales supporters filling three sides of the venue in the capital.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another yellow for Ethan Ampadu means the two players are ruled out for the upcoming crunch tie with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue match is a clash Wales need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and guarantee a more favourable position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different perspective from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers stood in in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the concluding match. A pair received cautions in moments that might hamper their team.

Their opponents, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and conceded 23 times at an average of nearly four per match.

Wales as expected dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan locating Broadhead this time with a precise delivery into space.

The attacker's superb control beat Büchel but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were cut short when the official was directed to the VAR screen and determined that a player of the Wales central defenders was in an offside from James’s header.

Wales increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the back post which the winger rattled against the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it began to look like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the game having entered its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd assist for Daniel James to get in behind the opposition backline.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent cross into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward task of relieving Wales' nerves.