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The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 success against international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their aspirations of World Cup finals progress.

Wales' James claimed his maiden international strike for Wales from inside the box after the home side's group of full-time players, office workers and students had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in joy with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters occupying most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was booked and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through suspension.

The Cardiff City Stadium match is a clash the Welsh team must win to leapfrog North Macedonia and secure a more favourable seeding in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an different vantage point from the stands, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after receiving a second yellow card in the tournament earlier.

The manager's deputy his assistant stood in in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in world football, had not scored in their winless run and let in 23 goals at an rate of around four per match.

Wales unsurprisingly controlled the ball as Liechtenstein lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and James saw his effort from the edge of the box pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, James locating his teammate this time with a well-weighted pass behind the defence.

Broadhead’s fine first touch took him past Büchel but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James headed a deep Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' celebrations were cut short when the match official was instructed to the video review system and determined that a player of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which James hit the woodwork.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the penalty box as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the contest having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams played a intelligent assist for his teammate to get in behind the opposition backline.

James beat the goalkeeper with a delightful pass across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan James had the straightforward job of ending Welsh tension.