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The Welsh side earned a tight 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Wales' James scored his first goal for the national team from close range after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. The scorer celebrated in delight with his visible excitement mirrored by the large contingent of Wales fans occupying multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another late caution for his midfield partner ensured the pair are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with their next opponents through accumulated bookings.

The Wales' ground fixture is a clash Wales have to secure victory in to move above North Macedonia and secure a more favourable position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar vantage point from the stands, the head coach serving a technical area prohibition after being shown a further caution in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's deputy his assistant took his place in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the final qualifier. Two of them were booked in situations that might hamper Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in world football, had not scored in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of nearly four per match.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as Liechtenstein lay in a deep defensive line and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead high press caused a mistake and James saw his attempt from the penalty area saved by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James finding Broadhead now with a accurate delivery into space.

Broadhead’s excellent first touch took him past the keeper but the attacker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales felt they scored the opener after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the referee was directed to the video review system and decided that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the back post which Daniel James rattled against the crossbar.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from inside the six-yard box as it appeared like one of those nights for Wales.

But, with the game having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams delivered a shrewd pass for Daniel James to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a delightful ball across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy job of relieving Wales' tension.