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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualifying.

Wales' James claimed his first goal for Wales from close range after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had defended for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Wales followers filling three sides of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for his midfield partner resulted in the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That Cardiff City Stadium match is a clash Wales must win to leapfrog their rivals and secure a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an different vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after receiving a additional booking in the competition earlier.

Bellamy’s number two his assistant stood in in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the last group game. Two of them received cautions in incidents that might hamper their team.

Their opponents, placed near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and conceded twenty-three goals at an average of around four per fixture.

Wales predictably had most of the play as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal was rarely tested until the forward's pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the penalty area pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

A similar move created another chance, Jordan picking out his teammate this time with a precise pass into space.

The attacker's excellent first touch took him past Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James headed a lofted Thomas corner back into a congested six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the official was instructed to the VAR screen and ruled that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the interval and Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which Daniel James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the penalty box as it appeared like one of those nights for Wales.

But, with the contest having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams played a intelligent through ball for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James beat Büchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward task of easing Wales' tension.