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The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James scored his debut goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, office workers and students had defended for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in delight with his obvious relief echoed by the 3,000 Welsh followers filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Soon afterwards, however, James was cautioned and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are unavailable for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through suspension.

That home venue contest is a clash Wales have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a more favourable seeding in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the stands, the Wales manager undertaking a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's assistant Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in moments that could really hurt their team.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in world football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed 23 goals at an rate of almost four per match.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as Liechtenstein adopted a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and James saw his attempt from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, James finding Broadhead this time with a precise pass over the top.

The attacker's excellent touch beat Büchel but the attacker could not convert from a narrow position.

Wales thought they had scored the opener after the first half when James directed a high Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were curtailed when the referee was sent to the video review system and ruled that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a cross to the opposite side which Daniel James struck the frame of the goal.

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

But, with the game having reached its final half-hour, Neco Williams executed a intelligent through ball for his teammate to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a superb ball into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of easing Welsh nerves.