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Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

The young midfielder claimed his debut international strike for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s mix of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. James ran off in delight with his clear emotion shared by the 3,000 Welsh supporters occupying multiple stands of the stadium in the capital.

Moments later, yet, James was booked and a further yellow for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to suspension.

That home venue contest is a clash Wales need to win to move above their rivals and secure a more favourable draw in the playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an unusual view from the dugout, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after picking up a additional booking in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s number two his assistant assumed duties in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the concluding match. Both James and Ampadu were booked in incidents that may damage their team.

Their opponents, situated 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had not scored in their winless run and conceded 23 times at an average of nearly four per fixture.

Wales as expected dominated possession as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.

The home goal saw little action until Nathan Broadhead chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the penalty area pushed aside by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, James picking out Broadhead this time with a precise delivery into space.

Broadhead’s fine control took him past Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a tight angle.

The Welsh team felt they broken the deadlock after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a lofted Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

Büchel was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' celebrations were halted when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and determined that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an offside from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the penalty box as it appeared like a difficult match for Wales.

But, with the game having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams executed a shrewd pass for his teammate to break behind the opposition backline.

James beat the goalkeeper with a superb cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward job of easing Wales' anxiety.