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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 victory over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

Jordan James notched his first goal for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, office workers and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in joy with his obvious relief echoed by the 3,000 Wales fans filling most sections of the venue in the capital.

Moments later, however, James was shown a yellow card and a further yellow for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are suspended for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That home venue fixture is a game the Welsh team need to win to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a more favourable position in the playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unusual view from the dugout, the Wales manager undertaking a sideline suspension after being shown a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's assistant Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and several key players – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the final qualifier. A pair were booked in situations that may damage Wales.

The home side, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had failed to score in their six qualifying defeats and let in twenty-three times at an average of around four per match.

Wales unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal saw little action 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, James locating his teammate this time with a accurate pass behind the defence.

The attacker's excellent first touch beat the keeper but the forward failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team believed they'd scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James headed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were halted when the official was sent to the video review system and ruled that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an offside from James’s header.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Thomas provided a ball to the back post which Daniel James hit the crossbar.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the penalty box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having ticked into its second half, Williams delivered a clever assist for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

James beat Büchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy opportunity of easing Welsh anxiety.