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Wales earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals progress.

Wales' James claimed his maiden international strike for the national team from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for the majority of the match. James celebrated in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh followers occupying most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, though, Jordan James was cautioned and another yellow for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are ruled out for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a game Wales need to win to overtake North Macedonia and secure a improved draw in the playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different view from the stands, the Wales manager undertaking a touchline ban after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

The manager's assistant his assistant assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that might hamper their team.

The home side, situated 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed 23 times at an rate of nearly four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as Liechtenstein lay in a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, James finding his teammate now with a accurate pass into space.

The attacker's excellent first touch took him past Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team felt they taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the match official was instructed to the VAR screen and determined that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the interval and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Williams then directed his header off target from inside the penalty box as it appeared like one of those nights for Wales.

However, with the game having ticked into its 61st minute, Williams delivered a intelligent pass for his teammate to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a excellent cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward job of easing Wales' tension.