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Wales claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals qualification.

The young midfielder notched 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 defended for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in delight with his clear emotion shared by the 3,000 Wales fans filling three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, yet, Jordan James was booked and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu means both midfielders are ruled out for Tuesday’s crucial match with North Macedonia through disciplinary issues.

That home venue match is a game Wales have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and obtain a improved position in the playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an different perspective from the dugout, Bellamy undertaking a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the competition earlier.

Bellamy’s deputy Piet Cremers stood in in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. A pair were booked in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

Their opponents, situated near the bottom in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of almost four per game.

Wales as expected controlled the ball as their hosts employed a low defensive block and packed their defence.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Broadhead chasing down caused a mistake and James saw his effort from the 18-yard line parried by the goalkeeper.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, James finding his teammate now with a accurate ball into space.

Broadhead’s superb control beat Büchel but the attacker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the first half when James headed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and ruled that a player of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas sent in a ball to the opposite side which Daniel James hit the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the goal area as it began to look like a difficult match for Wales.

But, with the contest having entered its 61st minute, Williams played a intelligent pass for his teammate to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a excellent cross across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the simple opportunity of ending Welsh nerves.