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Wales secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualifying.

Jordan James notched his maiden international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had held out for over an hour. James ran off in delight with his visible excitement echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters occupying multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, though, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in both midfielders are suspended for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

That home venue fixture is a game the Welsh team must win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a improved position in the final round in March.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the sidelines, the head coach completing a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers earlier.

The manager's assistant Piet Cremers stood in in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in situations that may damage their team.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their winless run and allowed twenty-three goals at an rate of almost four per game.

The visitors predictably dominated possession as Liechtenstein adopted a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the edge of the box parried by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan finding his teammate now with a well-weighted ball into space.

Broadhead’s fine control beat the keeper but the forward was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after the opening period when James directed a lofted Thomas corner back into a congested six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were cut short when the match official was directed to the video review system and determined that a player of the Welsh defenders was in an offside from James’s header.

The visitors increased the pressure after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the penalty box as it began to look like one of those nights for Wales.

But, with the match having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams delivered a clever through ball for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James beat the goalkeeper with a superb cross along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan had the simple job of relieving Welsh tension.