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The Welsh side claimed a tight 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup progress.

Wales' James notched his maiden international strike for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and students had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in elation with his visible excitement shared by the three thousand Welsh supporters packed into most sections of the stadium in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was booked and another yellow for his midfield partner resulted in both midfielders are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia due to suspension.

The Wales' ground contest is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a better position in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an different vantage point from the stands, the Wales manager completing a sideline suspension after receiving a additional booking in the competition last month.

The manager's deputy his assistant stood in in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in incidents that might hamper Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and let in 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per match.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as their hosts adopted a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, Jordan locating his teammate this time with a precise ball over the top.

The attacker's excellent control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after 26 minutes when Jordan James directed a high Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were cut short when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and decided that a player of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which Daniel James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the six-yard box as it appeared like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having entered its second half, Neco Williams executed a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a excellent ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the easy job of ending Welsh tension.