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The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win against underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Wales' James notched his maiden goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer celebrated in delight with his clear emotion shared by the three thousand Wales followers filling multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Soon afterwards, however, Jordan James was cautioned and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured both midfielders are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue match is a game the Welsh team must win to overtake North Macedonia and secure a improved seeding in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the stands, the head coach undertaking a touchline ban after picking up a second yellow card in the tournament previously.

Bellamy’s number two Cremers stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from missing the final qualifier. Two of them received cautions in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, situated 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had been goalless in their previous six losses and let in twenty-three goals at an average of nearly four per match.

The visitors as expected had most of the play as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, James picking out his teammate on this occasion with a well-weighted delivery into space.

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

Wales thought they had broken the deadlock after the first half when Jordan James nodded a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the official was sent to the video review system and ruled that at least one of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Sorba Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which the winger struck the frame of the goal.

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

However, with the game having entered its final half-hour, Williams played a intelligent pass for Daniel James to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a excellent cross across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the simple task of easing Wales' anxiety.