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The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 win against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their hopes of World Cup finals qualifying.

Wales' James scored his maiden international strike for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, amateurs and part-timers had held out for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his clear emotion mirrored by the large contingent of Wales followers packed into three sides of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was booked and another late caution for his midfield partner means the pair are unavailable for the upcoming crucial match with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium match is a game Wales have to secure victory in to overtake their rivals and guarantee a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in March.

Craig Bellamy had an different vantage point from the sidelines, Bellamy undertaking a technical area prohibition after receiving a additional booking in the competition last month.

Bellamy’s deputy Piet Cremers took his place in the technical area and several key players – Jordan James, Ampadu, Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from sitting out the final qualifier. Two of them were booked in incidents that could really hurt Wales.

The home side, placed 206 out of 210 teams in global rankings, had not scored in their winless run and let in 23 times at an rate of around four per fixture.

The visitors predictably had most of the play as Liechtenstein employed a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

Their opponent's target remained unthreatened until Broadhead high press forced an error and Jordan James saw his effort from the edge of the box parried by Büchel.

That pairing created another chance, James finding Broadhead now with a precise delivery over the top.

The attacker's excellent control beat Büchel but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

The Welsh team believed they'd broken the deadlock after the opening period when James headed a deep Sorba Thomas set-piece back into a congested six-yard box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh elation were halted when the match official was instructed to the pitchside monitor and decided that at least one of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's initial touch.

The visitors raised the tempo after the interval and Sorba Thomas provided a centering pass to the back post which James rattled against the woodwork.

Williams then missed with a header from within the goal area as it began to look like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

Yet, with the match having entered its 61st minute, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent pass for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a excellent pass into the danger area, and his namesake Jordan James had the straightforward job of relieving Wales' anxiety.