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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James scored his maiden international strike for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, office workers and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in elation with his obvious relief shared by the large contingent of Welsh supporters packed into three sides of the venue in the capital.

Moments later, however, James was cautioned and a further yellow for his midfield partner ensured both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a game Wales need to win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a better draw in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an different perspective from the stands, Bellamy serving a touchline ban after picking up a further caution in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s deputy his assistant assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in incidents that might hamper Wales.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed 23 times at an rate of almost four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein adopted a compact shape and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Broadhead pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan locating Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted pass behind the defence.

The attacker's superb touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the referee was sent to the video review system and decided that a player of the Wales defenders was in an offside from James’s initial touch.

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

Williams then missed with a header from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the match having entered its 61st minute, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent pass for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James beat Büchel with a delightful pass across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan James had the simple opportunity of ending Welsh nerves.