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Wales earned a narrow 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup progress.

Wales' James claimed his debut international strike for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in elation with his obvious relief mirrored by the large contingent of Wales supporters filling multiple stands of the venue in the capital.

Moments later, yet, James was booked and a further yellow for his midfield partner ensured the pair are suspended for the upcoming decisive game with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That home venue match is a encounter the Welsh team must win to leapfrog North Macedonia and guarantee a better draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different view from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

Bellamy’s assistant his assistant stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, ranked near the bottom in global rankings, had failed to score in their six qualifying defeats and let in 23 times at an rate of around four per game.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the edge of the box parried by the goalkeeper.

That pairing worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead on this occasion with a precise pass into space.

The attacker's excellent touch beat Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales thought they had broken the deadlock after the first half when James directed a high Thomas corner back into a congested six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the match official was instructed to the VAR screen and determined that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Thomas delivered a centering pass to the back post which the winger struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then directed his header off target from within the goal area as it began to look like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having reached its 61st minute, Williams played a clever through ball for Daniel James to get in behind the opposition backline.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a superb cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple opportunity of easing Wales' anxiety.