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The Welsh side secured a tight 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup qualifying.

The young midfielder claimed his maiden goal for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and students had held out for more than 60 minutes. The scorer ran off in delight with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters filling most sections of the stadium in the capital.

Soon afterwards, yet, James was shown a yellow card and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the pair are unavailable for Tuesday’s crucial match with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a game the Welsh team must win to move above their rivals and secure a better position in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a touchline ban after being shown a further caution in the tournament last month.

The manager's assistant Piet Cremers stood in in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were a booking away from missing the final qualifier. Two of them received cautions in moments that might hamper Wales.

Their opponents, situated 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had been goalless in their previous six losses and conceded 23 times at an rate of nearly four per game.

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

Liechtenstein's net remained unthreatened until Broadhead pressing caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line pushed aside by Büchel.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding his teammate this time with a precise ball behind the defence.

Broadhead’s fine first touch took him past the keeper but the forward could not convert from a narrow position.

Wales felt they broken the deadlock after the first half when Jordan James nodded a deep Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance landed with Nathan Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' celebrations were curtailed when the official was instructed to the pitchside monitor and determined that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the back post which James hit the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having ticked into its 61st minute, Neco Williams executed a clever assist for his teammate to break behind the home defence.

Daniel James beat the goalkeeper with a excellent cross along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan James had the simple task of easing Wales' tension.