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Wales claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James notched his first international strike for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had held out for over an hour. The scorer ran off in elation with his obvious relief echoed by the 3,000 Wales followers packed into most sections of the venue in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further yellow for his midfield partner ensured the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents through suspension.

That home venue fixture is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and obtain a improved draw in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the tournament previously.

The manager's number two Cremers stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from missing the last group game. A pair came unstuck in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and conceded 23 goals at an rate of around four per fixture.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as Liechtenstein adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead pressing caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

That pairing created another chance, Jordan finding Broadhead this time with a accurate pass into space.

The attacker's superb control beat the keeper but the attacker could not convert from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team thought they had taken the lead after the opening period when James directed a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Thomas sent in a ball to the back post which the winger rattled against the crossbar.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the penalty box as it began to look like a frustrating evening for Wales.

Yet, with the game having ticked into its 61st minute, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent pass for his teammate to run past the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a superb ball into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward job of easing Welsh anxiety.