Jordan James nets the Welsh team to crucial World Cup win versus the Liechtenstein national team.

Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals progress.

Wales' James claimed his debut international strike for Wales from near the goal after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and students had defended for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in delight with his clear emotion shared by the large contingent of Welsh followers occupying three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, however, James was cautioned and a further yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are ruled out for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia due to suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium match is a encounter Wales have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and obtain a better draw in the final round in March.

The Wales manager had an different view from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a touchline ban after picking up a further caution in the competition earlier.

The manager's deputy Piet Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in moments that might hamper their team.

The home side, situated near the bottom in international football, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per match.

Wales as expected controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until the forward's pressing caused a mistake and Jordan James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

A similar move worked the next opening, Jordan locating his teammate now with a precise pass behind the defence.

Broadhead’s fine control took him past Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James headed a lofted Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the interval and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the opposite side which the winger rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the six-yard box as it began to look like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the game having reached its second half, Williams delivered a shrewd pass for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful ball into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan James had the simple opportunity of relieving Welsh anxiety.