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The Welsh side claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals progress.

Jordan James notched his first international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for the majority of the match. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his obvious relief shared by the three thousand Wales fans occupying most sections of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, James was booked and another booking for his midfield partner ensured both midfielders are ruled out for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents through accumulated bookings.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and obtain a improved position in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the stands, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after picking up a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

Bellamy’s assistant his assistant assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the final qualifier. A pair received cautions in moments that could really hurt their team.

Their opponents, situated near the bottom in international football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 times at an rate of almost four per fixture.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a deep defensive line and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until the forward's chasing down won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a precise pass behind the defence.

The attacker's superb first touch took him past the keeper but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James headed a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a crowded six-yard box.

Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were halted when the match official was instructed to the video review system and ruled that at least one of the Welsh central defenders was in an offside from James’s initial touch.

Wales raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which James struck the crossbar.

Williams then headed wide from within the goal area as it began to look like one of those nights for Wales.

Yet, with the contest having entered its 61st minute, Williams executed a intelligent assist for Daniel James to get in behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a superb cross across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy opportunity of ending Wales' tension.