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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Wales' James scored his first international strike for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in joy with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Welsh followers packed into three sides of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was shown a yellow card and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

The Wales' ground contest is a clash Wales must win to leapfrog North Macedonia and secure a more favourable seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unusual perspective from the dugout, Bellamy completing a sideline suspension after receiving a additional booking in the competition last month.

The manager's deputy Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in moments that might hamper Wales.

Liechtenstein, situated near the bottom in world football, had not scored in their winless run and let in twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

The home goal saw little action until Nathan Broadhead pressing forced an error and James saw his attempt from the edge of the box pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, James locating Broadhead this time with a accurate ball over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent first touch beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a tight angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a high Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the referee was directed to the video review system and decided that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a cross to the back post which James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the goal area as it began to look like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

However, with the game having ticked into its 61st minute, Williams played a intelligent through ball for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

James cut out Büchel with a superb ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan James had the straightforward job of relieving Welsh nerves.