Jordan James nets Wales to important World Cup qualifying triumph versus the Liechtenstein national team.

The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 win against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James scored his first international strike for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had defended for over an hour. The scorer ran off in joy with his clear emotion mirrored by the three thousand Welsh supporters filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are unavailable for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog North Macedonia and secure a better draw in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different view from the stands, the Wales manager serving a technical area prohibition after being shown a additional booking in the tournament last month.

The manager's number two Piet Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from missing the final qualifier. A pair received cautions in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and let in 23 goals at an rate of around four per fixture.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead this time with a well-weighted pass over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent touch beat Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a narrow position.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after 26 minutes when James nodded a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh joy were cut short when the match official was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that a player of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the interval and Thomas sent in a ball to the far post which James rattled against the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it started to seem like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the game having entered its second half, Williams executed a intelligent assist for Daniel James to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward opportunity of relieving Welsh nerves.