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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 victory against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder scored his maiden goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in delight with his visible excitement shared by the large contingent of Welsh fans occupying multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was cautioned and another late caution for his midfield partner ensured the pair are suspended for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium match is a encounter Wales must win to overtake North Macedonia and obtain a better draw in the playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar view from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a technical area prohibition after being shown a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

Bellamy’s deputy his assistant stood in in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in incidents that might hamper Wales.

Their opponents, ranked near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their winless run and let in twenty-three times at an rate of nearly four per fixture.

Wales unsurprisingly controlled the ball as Liechtenstein employed a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target saw little action until the forward's high press caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, James locating his teammate this time with a well-weighted pass behind the defence.

Broadhead’s excellent control evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they broken the deadlock after the first half when James nodded a deep Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

Büchel was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the match official was sent to the VAR screen and determined that a player of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Thomas delivered a ball to the far post which the winger rattled against the frame of the goal.

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

However, with the contest having entered its 61st minute, Williams executed a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to run past the home defence.

James bypassed the goalkeeper with a excellent ball into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan James had the straightforward opportunity of ending Welsh anxiety.