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The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualifying.

The young midfielder notched his debut goal for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of professionals, office workers and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer ran off in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the three thousand Wales supporters filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, James was booked and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game Wales need to win to move above North Macedonia and secure a better seeding in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the sidelines, the head coach undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a second yellow card in the competition previously.

The manager's number two his assistant assumed duties in the coaching zone and several key players – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the last group game. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in incidents that might hamper their team.

Their opponents, situated among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and let in twenty-three goals at an average of nearly four per fixture.

The visitors as expected controlled the ball as Liechtenstein adopted a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

The home goal was rarely tested until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by the goalkeeper.

That pairing worked the next opening, Jordan locating his teammate on this occasion with a accurate delivery over the top.

The attacker's superb touch took him past the keeper but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after 26 minutes when Jordan James directed a high Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Thomas provided a centering pass to the opposite side which the winger struck the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from inside the goal area as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the match having reached its second half, Neco Williams delivered a clever pass for Daniel James to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out Büchel with a delightful pass across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy job of ending Wales' anxiety.