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Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualification.

The young midfielder notched his maiden goal for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for the majority of the match. James ran off in joy with his clear emotion shared by the large contingent of Welsh fans occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

The home venue contest is a clash the Welsh team have to secure victory in to move above their rivals and obtain a more favourable position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a sideline suspension after being shown a additional booking in the competition earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers assumed duties in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from missing the final qualifier. Two of them received cautions in moments that might hamper Wales.

The home side, situated among the lowest-ranked in world football, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and allowed twenty-three goals at an average of almost four per game.

Wales predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead pressing forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the edge of the box pushed aside by Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead this time with a precise ball over the top.

The attacker's excellent touch beat the keeper but the forward could not convert from a tight angle.

The Welsh team felt they broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when James headed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the official was sent to the pitchside monitor and determined that at least one of the Welsh defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which James struck the frame of the goal.

Williams then directed his header off target from inside the goal area as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the game having ticked into its final half-hour, Neco Williams played a intelligent pass for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent pass across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy opportunity of easing Welsh tension.