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Wales secured a tight 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

The young midfielder claimed his first international strike for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, amateurs and students had defended for over an hour. James wheeled away in elation with his obvious relief shared by the large contingent of Welsh fans filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, James was booked and a further yellow for his midfield partner resulted in both midfielders are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

The home venue contest is a clash Wales need to win to overtake North Macedonia and secure a more favourable draw in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the head coach serving a sideline suspension after picking up a additional booking in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's deputy Piet Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from missing the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in situations that might hamper Wales.

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

The visitors as expected had most of the play as their hosts employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan finding Broadhead on this occasion with a precise ball into space.

The attacker's superb control took him past the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales felt they scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas set-piece back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was sent to the VAR screen and decided that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an offside from James’s initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which Daniel James struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then headed wide from within the goal area as it started to seem like one of those nights for Wales.

Yet, with the match having entered its second half, Williams executed a shrewd pass for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a superb cross along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the simple opportunity of relieving Welsh nerves.