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Wales secured a hard-fought 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

Jordan James notched his maiden goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's assorted collection of professionals, office workers and students had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer wheeled away in delight with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters packed into three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, James was booked and another booking for Ethan Ampadu means the pair are suspended for the upcoming crunch tie with North Macedonia through suspension.

The Wales' ground fixture is a clash Wales need to win to move above their rivals and guarantee a better draw in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the dugout, the head coach completing a technical area prohibition after picking up a second yellow card in the qualifiers last month.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers stood in in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the final qualifier. Two of them received cautions in moments that might hamper their team.

Liechtenstein, placed near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 goals at an average of around four per match.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as Liechtenstein lay in 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 attempt from the edge of the box pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, James finding his teammate now with a well-weighted delivery behind the defence.

The attacker's superb control took him past Büchel but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when James nodded a deep Thomas corner back into a packed six-yard box.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Welsh elation were halted when the referee was sent to the video review system and determined that one or more of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the half-time and Thomas provided a cross to the opposite side which James rattled against the woodwork.

Neco Williams then headed wide from within the six-yard box as it began to look like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the contest having entered its final half-hour, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent pass for his teammate to break behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James cut out Büchel with a superb cross into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the simple job of easing Welsh nerves.