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Wales claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup qualifying.

Wales' James claimed his debut goal for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had defended for over an hour. The scorer wheeled away in delight with his obvious relief echoed by the large contingent of Welsh followers filling most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Soon afterwards, though, James was booked and another yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a improved seeding in the playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the stands, Bellamy completing a touchline ban after being shown a further caution in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers assumed duties in the coaching zone and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from missing the concluding match. Two of them received cautions in situations that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had been goalless in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of around four per fixture.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a compact shape and defended in numbers.

The home goal was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down won possession and James saw his effort from the penalty area parried by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move worked the next opening, James finding Broadhead this time with a well-weighted pass into space.

The attacker's excellent touch took him past the keeper but the attacker failed to finish from a tight angle.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the first half when James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' joy were cut short when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and decided that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

Wales raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the opposite side which the winger struck the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like a difficult match for Wales.

However, with the contest having ticked into its second half, Williams executed a intelligent through ball for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful pass along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward task of ending Wales' nerves.