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Wales claimed a hard-fought 1-0 success over less-fancied opponents Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup progress.

Wales' James notched his first international strike for Wales from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of full-time players, office workers and part-timers had defended for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in elation with his visible excitement echoed by the three thousand Welsh supporters filling multiple stands of the venue in Vaduz.

Moments later, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another booking for his midfield partner resulted in the two players are ruled out for the upcoming crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a encounter the Welsh team have to secure victory in to overtake North Macedonia and guarantee a better draw in the final round in next spring.

Bellamy had an unfamiliar view from the stands, Bellamy serving a touchline ban after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers earlier.

Bellamy’s assistant his assistant assumed duties in the dugout and several key players – James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in incidents that may damage their team.

The home side, ranked among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their six qualifying defeats and conceded 23 goals at an average of nearly four per fixture.

The visitors unsurprisingly dominated possession as Liechtenstein lay in a low defensive block and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until the forward's chasing down won possession and James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line parried by Büchel.

The same combination worked the next opening, James locating Broadhead on this occasion with a well-weighted pass behind the defence.

The attacker's excellent control beat Büchel but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a tight angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James headed a high Thomas corner back into a crowded penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' elation were curtailed when the referee was instructed to the VAR screen and determined that one or more of the Wales defenders was in an illegal position from James’s header.

Wales increased the pressure after the break and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the back post which James struck the crossbar.

Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it began to look like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having reached its 61st minute, Neco Williams played a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to get in behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a superb ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the simple task of ending Welsh anxiety.