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Wales secured a narrow 1-0 success against international minnows Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup progress.

The young midfielder notched his first goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had resisted for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the 3,000 Wales fans filling most sections of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, though, James was cautioned and another late caution for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are suspended for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents through disciplinary issues.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game Wales need to win to overtake their rivals and secure a better draw in the final round in next spring.

Bellamy had an unusual vantage point from the dugout, Bellamy serving a touchline ban after picking up a second yellow card in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers took his place in the dugout and multiple first-teamers – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the concluding match. Two of them received cautions in incidents that may damage their team.

The home side, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had been goalless in their winless run and let in 23 goals at an rate of almost four per game.

The visitors predictably controlled the ball as their hosts adopted a compact shape and packed their defence.

Their opponent's target was rarely tested until the forward's pressing caused a mistake and James saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, Jordan finding his teammate on this occasion with a accurate delivery behind the defence.

The attacker's fine touch evaded Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a narrow position.

The Welsh team felt they broken the deadlock after the opening period when James headed a deep Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the referee was sent to the VAR screen and determined that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an illegal position from Jordan's header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a ball to the far post which James rattled against the woodwork.

Neco Williams then headed wide from within the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

Yet, with the contest having entered its final half-hour, Williams played a shrewd assist for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James beat Büchel with a excellent ball along the six-yard box, and his namesake Jordan James had the easy task of ending Wales' tension.