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The Welsh side secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

The young midfielder scored his first international strike for the national team from close range after the home side's mix of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his visible excitement mirrored by the 3,000 Wales supporters filling multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, yet, James was shown a yellow card and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with North Macedonia due to accumulated bookings.

The Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an different view from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a sideline suspension after being shown a additional booking in the qualifiers earlier.

The manager's deputy his assistant took his place in the dugout and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from missing the final qualifier. A pair were booked in situations that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, ranked near the bottom in global rankings, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and let in 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per match.

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

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until the forward's chasing down forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the penalty area parried by the goalkeeper.

The same combination worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead now with a well-weighted ball over the top.

Broadhead’s fine touch beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team thought they had broken the deadlock after the first half when James directed a high Thomas set-piece back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh elation were halted when the referee was directed to the VAR screen and determined that one or more of the Welsh central defenders was in an illegal position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Thomas sent in a centering pass to the far post which Daniel James struck the crossbar.

Williams then directed his header off target from within the goal area as it appeared like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

However, with the match having entered its second half, Neco Williams executed a shrewd pass for Daniel James to run past the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a delightful pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan had the simple job of easing Wales' anxiety.