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Wales earned a hard-fought 1-0 success over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Wales' James notched his maiden goal for Wales from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had held out for the majority of the match. James ran off in joy with his obvious relief shared by the 3,000 Wales supporters packed into multiple stands of the venue in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, James was cautioned and another yellow for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a improved draw in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different view from the dugout, Bellamy serving a sideline suspension after being shown a additional booking in the competition earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Piet Cremers stood in in the dugout and several key players – James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from sitting out the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu were booked in moments that may damage their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in world football, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an average of nearly four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly had most of the play as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until the forward's high press won possession and James saw his shot from the penalty area pushed aside by Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, Jordan locating Broadhead this time with a accurate pass behind the defence.

The attacker's excellent touch evaded Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a difficult angle.

Wales thought they had broken the deadlock after 26 minutes when James headed a high Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were halted when the match official was sent to the VAR screen and decided that at least one of the Welsh central defenders was in an offside from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas delivered a ball to the far post which James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

But, with the contest having ticked into its final half-hour, Neco Williams executed a intelligent through ball for Daniel James to get in behind the home defence.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of ending Welsh anxiety.