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Wales earned a tight 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their aspirations of World Cup qualifying.

Wales' James claimed his maiden goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's mix of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had defended for over an hour. James celebrated in delight with his visible excitement shared by the three thousand Wales fans filling three sides of the venue in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, James was shown a yellow card and another yellow for his midfield partner means the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.

That Wales' ground contest is a game Wales need to win to overtake North Macedonia and guarantee a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the dugout, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s number two Cremers assumed duties in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the concluding match. A pair received cautions in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, placed near the bottom in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed twenty-three times at an average of around four per game.

Wales as expected had most of the play as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal saw little action until the forward's high press forced an error and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line saved by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan locating his teammate on this occasion with a precise delivery into space.

Broadhead’s superb touch beat Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when Jordan James nodded a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were halted when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas provided a centering pass to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from within the penalty box as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

Yet, with the game having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams executed a shrewd pass for his teammate to break behind the home defence.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a delightful cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of easing Wales' nerves.