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The Welsh side earned a narrow 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James notched his maiden goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had resisted for the majority of the match. James ran off in joy with his clear emotion echoed by the large contingent of Welsh followers packed into most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, however, James was booked and a further booking for his midfield partner means the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

That home venue fixture is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog North Macedonia and guarantee a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the stands, the Wales manager undertaking a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the tournament earlier.

The manager's assistant Cremers stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the last group game. A pair received cautions in incidents that could really hurt their team.

The home side, situated among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 times at an rate of around four per game.

The visitors as expected controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target saw little action until Broadhead high press forced an error and James saw his shot from the penalty area pushed aside by Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan picking out Broadhead now with a accurate delivery over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent control beat Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the opening period when James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas corner back into a congested goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh celebrations were halted when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and decided that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas provided a centering pass to the back post which James rattled against the woodwork.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it appeared like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

But, with the match having entered its second half, Neco Williams delivered a clever pass for Daniel James to get in behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James cut out Büchel with a superb pass across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward job of relieving Welsh nerves.