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Wales earned a tight 1-0 win against underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Wales' James scored his debut goal for the national team from near the goal after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. James celebrated in delight with his clear emotion mirrored by the large contingent of Welsh followers filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, yet, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu ensured the two players are ruled out for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents through accumulated bookings.

The Wales' ground fixture is a clash Wales need to win to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a better draw in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, the head coach serving a sideline suspension after receiving a further caution in the qualifiers last month.

The manager's number two Piet Cremers stood in in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. Two of them were booked in moments that might hamper Wales.

The home side, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and allowed 23 times at an average of almost four per match.

Wales predictably had most of the play as their hosts employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line pushed aside by the goalkeeper.

A similar move worked the next opening, Jordan finding his teammate now with a accurate pass into space.

The attacker's superb touch beat Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a narrow position.

Wales believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when James directed a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were halted when the referee was instructed to the pitchside monitor and decided that at least one of the Welsh defenders was in an illegal position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the contest having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams executed a clever through ball for Daniel James to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of ending Welsh nerves.