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The Welsh side earned a narrow 1-0 victory against less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup finals progress.

The young midfielder claimed his first goal for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s mix of professionals, amateurs and students had defended for more than 60 minutes. James ran off in elation with his obvious relief mirrored by the three thousand Wales supporters packed into three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, Jordan James was booked and a further booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the pair are ruled out for the upcoming crucial match with North Macedonia through suspension.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter Wales need to win to move above North Macedonia and guarantee a better seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

The Wales manager had an unusual perspective from the sidelines, the Wales manager completing a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the competition previously.

The manager's number two his assistant took his place in the technical area and four of Wales’s starters – James, Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from being absent for the last group game. Two of them were booked in moments that may damage their team.

Their opponents, placed near the bottom in world football, had been goalless in their winless run and conceded 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

Wales as expected dominated possession as their hosts adopted a compact shape and defended in numbers.

The home goal was rarely tested until Nathan Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his attempt from the penalty area pushed aside by Benjamin Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, James finding his teammate now with a accurate pass over the top.

The attacker's superb control beat the keeper but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales felt they scored the opener after 26 minutes when Jordan James headed a high Sorba Thomas corner back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was under pressure by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh joy were curtailed when the official was instructed to the video review system and determined that at least one of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

Wales stepped up a gear after the break and Thomas sent in a ball to the back post which Daniel James struck the woodwork.

Williams then headed wide from inside the penalty box as it appeared like a frustrating evening for Wales.

But, with the match having entered its 61st minute, Neco Williams played a shrewd through ball for his teammate to get in behind the home defence.

James cut out Büchel with a excellent cross along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward opportunity of ending Wales' tension.