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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 success against underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup qualification.

Wales' James notched his debut goal for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, office workers and students had held out for over an hour. James wheeled away in joy with his obvious relief shared by the large contingent of Wales followers filling most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

The home venue fixture is a encounter Wales need to win to overtake North Macedonia and obtain a improved seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an different vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after picking up a second yellow card in the competition last month.

The manager's number two Cremers assumed duties in the coaching zone and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the last group game. Two of them came unstuck in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

The home side, placed near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and let in twenty-three times at an rate of around four per fixture.

Wales as expected dominated possession as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and packed their defence.

The home goal saw little action until Broadhead high press caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out his teammate now with a precise ball over the top.

The attacker's excellent first touch beat Büchel but the forward failed to finish from a tight angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when James directed a deep Thomas set-piece back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and decided that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a cross to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the goal area as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

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

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward opportunity of easing Wales' tension.