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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 win against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup progress.

Wales' James scored his maiden international strike for the national team from inside the box after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in joy with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Wales fans filling most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was shown a yellow card and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in both midfielders are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

That Wales' ground fixture is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable seeding in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an different view from the stands, the Wales manager completing a technical area prohibition after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's deputy his assistant assumed duties in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the last group game. A pair were booked in moments that could really hurt their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed twenty-three goals at an average of almost four per match.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as Liechtenstein adopted a compact shape and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his effort from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out his teammate this time with a accurate pass behind the defence.

The attacker's superb control took him past the keeper but the forward could not convert from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when Jordan James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested goal area.

Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' elation were halted when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and decided that one or more of the Welsh defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the far post which James hit the frame of the goal.

Williams then headed wide from inside the goal area as it began to look like a frustrating evening for Wales.

However, with the match having ticked into its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd through ball for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful cross into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy job of relieving Wales' tension.