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The Welsh side claimed a narrow 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James scored his first international strike for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in delight with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Welsh followers packed into three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, James was shown a yellow card and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are unavailable for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That home venue fixture is a encounter Wales must win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable draw in the final round in next spring.

Bellamy had an different view from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a touchline ban after receiving a additional booking in the competition last month.

The manager's assistant Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the final qualifier. A pair were booked in moments that may damage Wales.

Liechtenstein, situated 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per fixture.

Wales unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts employed a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead pressing forced an error and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a accurate ball into space.

Broadhead’s fine first touch beat Büchel but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team felt they broken the deadlock after the first half when James directed a deep Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and decided that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

Wales increased the pressure after the break and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the crossbar.

Williams then headed wide from inside the goal area as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

Yet, with the contest having reached its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a clever pass for Daniel James to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the simple opportunity of easing Welsh nerves.