Wales' Jordan James scores the Welsh team to vital World Cup win over the Liechtenstein national team.

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

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Wales fans filling three sides of the venue in the capital.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

The home venue match is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and secure a better seeding in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a sideline suspension after being shown a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's assistant Cremers took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that might hamper their team.

The home side, placed near the bottom in world football, had failed to score in their winless run and allowed 23 goals at an average of almost four per fixture.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

The home goal was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

A similar move worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead this time with a precise delivery over the top.

The attacker's excellent control beat Büchel but the forward was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after 26 minutes when James nodded a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were curtailed when the official was instructed to the pitchside monitor and ruled that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

Wales increased the pressure after the interval and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the back post which James hit the woodwork.

Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

Yet, with the game having reached its second half, Neco Williams delivered a shrewd assist for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out Büchel with a delightful pass across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy opportunity of ending Wales' tension.