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Wales earned a narrow 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Jordan James claimed his maiden goal for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, office workers and students had resisted for over an hour. James celebrated in elation with his clear emotion shared by the 3,000 Wales supporters filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the two players are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium match is a game the Welsh team need to win to overtake their rivals and secure a better position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual view from the stands, the head coach serving a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers previously.

Bellamy’s number two his assistant took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the last group game. A pair received cautions in situations that could really hurt their team.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in international football, had not scored in their previous six losses and conceded 23 goals at an average of nearly four per match.

The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down forced an error and James saw his attempt from the penalty area saved by the goalkeeper.

A similar move crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted delivery over the top.

The attacker's superb first touch took him past the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James directed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the official was directed to the VAR screen and decided that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the interval and Sorba Thomas provided a centering pass to the opposite side which James struck the crossbar.

Williams then headed wide from within the goal area as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the game having ticked into its 61st minute, Williams played a clever assist for Daniel James to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a delightful pass along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of ending Wales' tension.