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

Wales' James scored his maiden international strike for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. James celebrated in joy with his clear emotion shared by the three thousand Wales followers occupying multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, though, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further yellow for his midfield partner ensured the two players are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a clash the Welsh team need to win to overtake their rivals and obtain a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different perspective from the sidelines, the head coach undertaking a sideline suspension after being shown a additional booking in the tournament earlier.

The manager's deputy his assistant took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the concluding match. Two of them were booked in situations that may damage Wales.

Their opponents, situated among the lowest-ranked in world football, had failed to score in their winless run and allowed twenty-three times at an average of around four per game.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as Liechtenstein lay in a compact shape and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead now with a well-weighted delivery into space.

Broadhead’s excellent control beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after 26 minutes when James headed a deep Sorba Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the referee was instructed to the video review system and decided that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas delivered a ball to the far post which James struck the woodwork.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the goal area as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

Yet, with the game having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever through ball for Daniel James to run past the opposition backline.

James cut out Büchel with a delightful cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the easy opportunity of relieving Wales' nerves.