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Wales earned a narrow 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualification.

The young midfielder claimed his maiden international strike for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James celebrated in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the large contingent of Welsh followers filling multiple stands of the venue in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, James was shown a yellow card and another booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

The Wales' ground contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and secure a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the head coach completing a touchline ban after being shown a additional booking in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and several key players – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. Two of them received cautions in moments that could really hurt Wales.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had failed to score in their winless run and allowed 23 times at an rate of almost four per fixture.

Wales unsurprisingly dominated possession as Liechtenstein adopted a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal saw little action until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and James saw his effort from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, James picking out his teammate on this occasion with a precise delivery behind the defence.

The attacker's fine control took him past the keeper but the attacker failed to finish from a tight angle.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James directed a lofted Thomas set-piece back into a crowded penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the official was sent to the video review system and determined that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales increased the pressure after the half-time and Thomas sent in a centering pass to the opposite side which Daniel James struck the woodwork.

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

Yet, with the match having ticked into its 61st minute, Neco Williams played a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a excellent cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the simple job of relieving Wales' nerves.