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The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over international minnows Liechtenstein to maintain their chances of World Cup finals qualification.

Wales' James claimed his first goal for Wales from inside the box after the home side's assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his visible excitement mirrored by the large contingent of Wales fans filling three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Shortly after, though, James was booked and another late caution for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are ruled out for the upcoming decisive game with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game Wales need to win to move above their rivals and obtain a better draw in the final round in March.

Bellamy had an different perspective from the stands, the Wales manager serving a sideline suspension after being shown a additional booking in the tournament earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant Cremers took his place in the technical area and several key players – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the last group game. Two of them received cautions in situations that might hamper their team.

The home side, ranked 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their winless run and let in 23 times at an average of around four per game.

The visitors unsurprisingly controlled the ball as their hosts lay in a compact shape and defended in numbers.

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

A similar move crafted an opportunity, Jordan finding Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted delivery behind the defence.

The attacker's superb touch evaded Büchel but the forward could not convert from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the opening period when James directed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a packed six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was harassed by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were halted when the match official was sent to the video review system and determined that at least one of the Welsh defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the break and Thomas delivered a ball to the back post which the winger struck the frame of the goal.

Neco Williams then directed his header off target from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the contest having reached its 61st minute, Williams played a clever through ball for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

James beat the goalkeeper with a excellent cross across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy job of easing Wales' nerves.