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The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James notched his maiden international strike for Wales from inside the box after the home side's mix of professionals, office workers and students had held out for over an hour. The scorer celebrated in elation with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Wales supporters packed into multiple stands of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, though, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another yellow for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are ruled out for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia through suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a improved seeding in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an different view from the stands, the Wales manager completing a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's deputy Cremers assumed duties in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the concluding match. A pair were booked in moments that may damage Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in world football, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded 23 times at an rate of almost four per game.

Wales predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein employed a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his shot from the edge of the box parried by Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, James finding his teammate on this occasion with a well-weighted ball over the top.

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

The Welsh team thought they had taken the lead after 26 minutes when James headed a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed six-yard box.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the match official was sent to the VAR screen and ruled that a player of the Welsh central defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a cross to the far post which Daniel James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the six-yard box as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the contest having reached its 61st minute, Williams played a clever assist for Daniel James to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the straightforward task of ending Wales' anxiety.