Wales' Jordan James nets the Welsh team to important World Cup qualifying triumph over the Liechtenstein national team.

Wales claimed a tight 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup progress.

Wales' James scored his first international strike for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in elation with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Wales fans packed into multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was booked and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a clash Wales must win to move above their rivals and obtain a improved seeding in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the head coach undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the qualifiers earlier.

The manager's deputy Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the concluding match. A pair received cautions in incidents that could really hurt their team.

Liechtenstein, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their previous six losses and allowed twenty-three goals at an average of around four per game.

Wales predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein employed a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the penalty area parried by Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan finding his teammate this time with a accurate delivery over the top.

Broadhead’s superb control beat Büchel but the forward was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the opening period when James headed a high Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt fell to Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were cut short when the referee was instructed to the video review system and ruled that a player of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which the winger struck the crossbar.

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

However, with the contest having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams executed a intelligent assist for his teammate to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful ball across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy task of ending Wales' tension.