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Wales secured a tight 1-0 success against underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Jordan James notched his first international strike for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in delight with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh fans filling most sections of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, Jordan James was booked and another booking for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

That Wales' ground fixture is a encounter Wales need to win to overtake their rivals and secure a better draw in the final round in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the stands, the head coach serving a touchline ban after being shown a second yellow card in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers took his place in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, placed near the bottom in international football, had been goalless in their previous six losses and let in twenty-three goals at an rate of around four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his attempt from the edge of the box pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, Jordan finding Broadhead this time with a well-weighted delivery over the top.

Broadhead’s superb first touch evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a tight angle.

The Welsh team felt they scored the opener after 26 minutes when James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a crowded penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh joy were cut short when the referee was instructed to the video review system and decided that a player of the Wales defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the interval and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which Daniel James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it appeared like a difficult match for Wales.

However, with the match having reached its 61st minute, Williams played a clever through ball for his teammate to get in behind the opposition backline.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward task of easing Welsh nerves.