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Wales secured a tight 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Jordan James scored his maiden international strike for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Welsh followers packed into multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was booked and another booking for his midfield partner means the two players are unavailable for the upcoming crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.

That Wales' ground contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a better seeding in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different vantage point from the dugout, the Wales manager completing a sideline suspension after being shown a further caution in the tournament previously.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers took his place in the dugout and several key players – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the last group game. Two of them were booked in incidents that might hamper Wales.

Liechtenstein, situated near the bottom in world football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and let in twenty-three goals at an average of around four per fixture.

The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line saved by Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out his teammate now with a well-weighted pass over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent touch took him past Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when James headed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were cut short when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and ruled that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

Wales raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas provided a cross to the back post which Daniel James rattled against the woodwork.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it began to look like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the game having reached its 61st minute, Williams played a shrewd through ball for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent ball into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy opportunity of relieving Wales' tension.