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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 victory against underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup progress.

Jordan James scored his debut goal for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of professionals, office workers and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James celebrated in elation with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, however, James was booked and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are ruled out for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents due to suspension.

The Wales' ground contest is a clash the Welsh team must win to leapfrog North Macedonia and guarantee a improved draw in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager undertaking a touchline ban after being shown a second yellow card in the competition last month.

The manager's assistant Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and several key players – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in situations that might hamper Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had not scored in their winless run and allowed twenty-three times at an rate of almost four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly dominated possession as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the penalty area pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan locating his teammate on this occasion with a accurate ball into space.

Broadhead’s excellent first touch evaded Büchel but the forward failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after 26 minutes when James headed a high Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and determined that at least one of the Welsh defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Thomas sent in a ball to the far post which James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the penalty box as it began to look like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

However, with the match having entered its final half-hour, Williams executed a shrewd through ball for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent pass along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the simple task of relieving Wales' tension.