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Wales earned a narrow 1-0 win against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup progress.

Wales' James scored his maiden international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh fans filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Shortly after, though, James was cautioned and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu ensured both midfielders are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue match is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and secure a more favourable seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the Wales manager undertaking a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's assistant his assistant took his place in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, placed 206 out of 210 teams in world football, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as their hosts employed a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the penalty area parried by the goalkeeper.

A similar move crafted an opportunity, James finding Broadhead now with a precise delivery over the top.

Broadhead’s fine touch beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a difficult angle.

Wales felt they broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James headed a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed six-yard box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were cut short when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Wales central defenders was in an offside from Jordan's header.

Wales raised the tempo after the interval and Thomas delivered a centering pass to the back post which James rattled against the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

But, with the game having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams played a intelligent pass for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

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