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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James scored his first international strike for the national team from near the goal after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. James celebrated in joy with his visible excitement echoed by the three thousand Wales followers occupying multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was cautioned and another yellow for his midfield partner ensured the two players are suspended for the upcoming crunch tie with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

The home venue match is a clash the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a more favourable seeding in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the dugout, the head coach serving a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s deputy Piet Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the concluding match. Two of them received cautions in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

The home side, situated near the bottom in global rankings, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and allowed 23 goals at an average of nearly four per fixture.

The visitors as expected had most of the play as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box parried by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing created another chance, James picking out his teammate now with a well-weighted delivery into space.

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

Wales thought they had scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James nodded a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were halted when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

Wales increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a cross to the far post which the winger hit the crossbar.

Williams then headed wide from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having entered its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever pass for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a delightful ball across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of ending Wales' anxiety.