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The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their aspirations of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James notched his maiden goal for Wales from close range after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for over an hour. The scorer wheeled away in joy with his clear emotion echoed by the 3,000 Welsh followers occupying multiple stands of the venue in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, James was booked and a further yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents through accumulated bookings.

That Wales' ground contest is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and secure a better position in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the dugout, the head coach completing a touchline ban after picking up a second yellow card in the tournament last month.

Bellamy’s deputy Piet Cremers took his place in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the final qualifier. Two of them came unstuck in situations that might hamper their team.

Liechtenstein, ranked among the lowest-ranked in world football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 times at an average of almost four per fixture.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box saved by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, Jordan picking out his teammate now with a accurate ball into space.

Broadhead’s excellent first touch took him past the keeper but the forward could not convert from a narrow position.

The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after the first half when James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the match official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s initial touch.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas delivered a cross to the far post which Daniel James hit the woodwork.

Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

However, with the contest having reached its second half, Williams played a intelligent pass for his teammate to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful pass along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of relieving Welsh tension.