Wales' Jordan James fires the Welsh team to crucial World Cup victory versus Liechtenstein.

The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their hopes of World Cup qualifying.

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for Wales from close range after the home side's mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for over an hour. The scorer ran off in delight with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Wales supporters filling multiple stands of the venue in the capital.

Soon afterwards, though, Jordan James was booked and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured the two players are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game the Welsh team need to win to overtake North Macedonia and obtain a improved draw in the playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an unusual perspective from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a sideline suspension after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers last month.

Bellamy’s number two Piet Cremers stood in in the dugout and several key players – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that might hamper Wales.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded 23 times at an rate of almost four per match.

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

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted ball into space.

The attacker's fine control took him past Büchel but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a narrow position.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James directed a high Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were curtailed when the official was sent to the video review system and decided that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which James struck the woodwork.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the penalty box as it began to look like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

But, with the match having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a clever assist for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

James beat Büchel with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy job of relieving Welsh nerves.