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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 win against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals progress.

Jordan James claimed his debut goal for Wales from inside the box after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for over an hour. The scorer celebrated in joy with his clear emotion mirrored by the 3,000 Wales fans packed into most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Moments later, however, James was shown a yellow card and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu ensured the pair are suspended for Tuesday’s decisive game with North Macedonia due to suspension.

The home venue fixture is a encounter Wales must win to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a improved seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar perspective from the stands, the Wales manager completing a sideline suspension after picking up a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers took his place in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu received cautions in situations that may damage Wales.

Liechtenstein, situated among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and conceded twenty-three times at an average of almost four per fixture.

Wales as expected had most of the play as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and defended in numbers.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan locating Broadhead this time with a well-weighted delivery into space.

Broadhead’s excellent touch beat the keeper but the attacker could not convert from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd scored the opener after the opening period when James headed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were halted when the referee was sent to the video review system and decided that a player of the Welsh defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

Wales increased the pressure after the half-time and Thomas delivered a centering pass to the back post which the winger rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

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

Daniel James cut out Büchel with a superb pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the simple job of relieving Welsh anxiety.