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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup progress.

Wales' James notched his maiden international strike for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in joy with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Welsh fans packed into multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, though, Jordan James was booked and a further late caution for his midfield partner means the pair are suspended for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a encounter Wales have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and guarantee a more favourable seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

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

The manager's number two his assistant took his place in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the last group game. A pair received cautions in situations that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, ranked among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their winless run and allowed twenty-three times at an average of around four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Broadhead high press forced an error and James saw his attempt from the penalty area parried by Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan locating his teammate now with a well-weighted pass over the top.

Broadhead’s fine touch evaded Büchel but the forward could not convert from a tight angle.

Wales felt they broken the deadlock after the first half when Jordan James headed a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were curtailed when the referee was sent to the video review system and determined that at least one of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the far post which the winger struck the woodwork.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the game having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever pass for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a superb ball across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward job of ending Wales' nerves.