The young midfielder James nets Wales to vital World Cup victory against Liechtenstein.

The Welsh side secured a hard-fought 1-0 success against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup qualifying.

The young midfielder scored his debut goal for the national team from near the goal after the home side's group of full-time players, amateurs and students had defended for over an hour. James wheeled away in delight with his clear emotion echoed by the three thousand Welsh fans filling three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Soon afterwards, though, Jordan James was booked and a further late caution for Ethan Ampadu means the two players are unavailable for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

That Cardiff City Stadium fixture is a clash Wales must win to overtake North Macedonia and secure a more favourable draw in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the stands, the Wales manager serving a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s deputy his assistant assumed duties in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the final qualifier. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in moments that may damage Wales.

Liechtenstein, ranked among the lowest-ranked in international football, had been goalless in their six qualifying defeats and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of nearly four per game.

Wales unsurprisingly dominated possession as Liechtenstein adopted a compact shape and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Büchel.

The same combination crafted an opportunity, James picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a accurate delivery into space.

The attacker's fine control evaded Büchel but the attacker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team felt they scored the opener after 26 minutes when James headed a lofted Thomas corner back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his feeble attempt fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were cut short when the official was directed to the pitchside monitor and determined that a player of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

Wales stepped up a gear after the interval and Sorba Thomas delivered a centering pass to the far post which the winger rattled against the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the penalty box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the match having entered its final half-hour, Williams executed a intelligent through ball for his teammate to run past the home defence.

James beat Büchel with a delightful pass along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the easy job of easing Welsh anxiety.