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Wales secured a tight 1-0 victory against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their hopes of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder claimed his debut international strike for Wales from inside the box after the home side's mix of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James ran off in joy with his clear emotion mirrored by the three thousand Welsh supporters packed into multiple stands of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, though, James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

The Wales' ground fixture is a encounter the Welsh team must win to overtake North Macedonia and guarantee a more favourable draw in the playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual view from the stands, Bellamy completing a touchline ban after receiving a additional booking in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant his assistant assumed duties in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from missing the last group game. Two of them came unstuck in incidents that might hamper Wales.

The home side, situated 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed twenty-three times at an rate of almost four per game.

The visitors predictably dominated possession as their hosts adopted a compact shape and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Broadhead high press forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

A similar move created another chance, James locating Broadhead now with a accurate ball into space.

The attacker's fine touch beat the keeper but the forward was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after the first half when Jordan James headed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were cut short when the match official was sent to the video review system and ruled that a player of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a cross to the opposite side which the winger hit the frame of the goal.

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

Yet, with the contest having reached its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent pass for Daniel James to get in behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent cross across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the simple job of ending Wales' nerves.