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Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. James wheeled away in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Welsh followers occupying three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was booked and another late caution for his midfield partner ensured the pair are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue contest is a game Wales need to win to move above their rivals and obtain a better position in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different vantage point from the stands, Bellamy undertaking a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the tournament earlier.

The manager's deputy his assistant stood in in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, situated near the bottom in world football, had failed to score in their winless run and allowed 23 times at an average of nearly four per match.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead high press forced an error and James saw his effort from the penalty area pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan locating Broadhead now with a precise delivery into space.

The attacker's superb touch evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a narrow position.

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

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' elation were cut short when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and ruled that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the interval and Sorba Thomas provided a centering pass to the opposite side which Daniel James rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a clever assist for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy opportunity of relieving Welsh tension.