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The Welsh side secured a hard-fought 1-0 success over international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Wales' James notched his first international strike for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Wales fans occupying three sides of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for his midfield partner resulted in both midfielders are unavailable for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue contest is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and guarantee a improved draw in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after being shown a second yellow card in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers stood in in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from missing the last group game. A pair received cautions in incidents that may damage their team.

The home side, situated among the lowest-ranked in world football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and let in twenty-three times at an average of around four per game.

The visitors predictably dominated possession as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

The home goal saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the edge of the box pushed aside by Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, Jordan locating Broadhead on this occasion with a precise pass behind the defence.

Broadhead’s excellent touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a difficult angle.

Wales thought they had scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James nodded a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Welsh central defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas delivered a ball to the opposite side which the winger rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from inside the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the contest having ticked into its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent assist for Daniel James to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a superb cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward opportunity of easing Wales' tension.