Wales' Jordan James scores the Welsh team to important World Cup win against Liechtenstein.

Wales claimed a tight 1-0 success over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualifying.

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, office workers and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James celebrated in delight with his clear emotion mirrored by the 3,000 Wales supporters occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Moments later, however, Jordan James was cautioned and a further booking for his midfield partner ensured both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

The Wales' ground contest is a clash Wales need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a better draw in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, the Wales manager completing a sideline suspension after picking up a further caution in the competition earlier.

The manager's deputy Piet Cremers assumed duties in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from missing the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in moments that could really hurt their team.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in world football, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed twenty-three goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly had most of the play as Liechtenstein adopted a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until Broadhead pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his effort from the penalty area pushed aside by Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James picking out his teammate on this occasion with a accurate pass over the top.

Broadhead’s fine control beat the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas set-piece back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the match official was directed to the video review system and decided that one or more of the Welsh defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which James hit the crossbar.

Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it appeared like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the match having reached its second half, Neco Williams played a shrewd pass for his teammate to get in behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a superb cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the easy task of ending Welsh nerves.