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

Jordan James claimed his maiden international strike for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for over an hour. The scorer ran off in elation with his clear emotion echoed by the large contingent of Wales followers packed into three sides of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was booked and a further booking for his midfield partner means both midfielders are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia through accumulated bookings.

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

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, the head coach completing a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's assistant Cremers stood in in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the last group game. A pair received cautions in moments that may damage Wales.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in world football, had been goalless in their winless run and let in 23 times at an rate of nearly four per match.

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

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's high press won possession and James saw his shot from the penalty area saved by Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding his teammate now with a accurate pass into space.

Broadhead’s superb control took him past Büchel but the forward was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales thought they had taken the lead after 26 minutes when James directed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch landed with Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh elation were cut short when the official was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that a player of the Wales central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

Wales increased the pressure after the interval and Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which Daniel James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it began to look like one of those nights for Wales.

However, with the contest having reached its second half, Neco Williams executed a clever assist for his teammate to get in behind the opposition backline.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful ball across the face of goal, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of ending Welsh nerves.