Jordan James fires the Welsh team to crucial World Cup qualifying victory against Liechtenstein.

Wales earned a tight 1-0 victory against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup progress.

Wales' James claimed his first international strike for Wales from close range after the home side's mix of professionals, office workers and students had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Wales fans packed into three sides of the venue in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, James was cautioned and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are ruled out for the upcoming crunch tie with North Macedonia through suspension.

That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a game Wales need to win to leapfrog their rivals and secure a better seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar view from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the tournament last month.

Bellamy’s deputy Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in moments that could really hurt their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their winless run and conceded twenty-three goals at an rate of around four per fixture.

Wales as expected controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a compact shape and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target saw little action until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, James locating his teammate now with a precise pass behind the defence.

The attacker's excellent control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a narrow position.

Wales felt they taken the lead after the first half when James headed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were halted when the match official was sent to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Wales central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales increased the pressure after the interval and Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which the winger hit the frame of the goal.

Williams then directed his header off target from within the goal area as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the match having reached its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd through ball for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a superb pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward job of relieving Welsh anxiety.