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The Welsh side earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over underdogs Liechtenstein to keep alive their chances of World Cup progress.

Wales' James notched his first international strike for the national team from close range after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of professionals, office workers and students had resisted for the majority of the match. James wheeled away in joy with his clear emotion mirrored by the 3,000 Wales supporters filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, yet, Jordan James was cautioned and another yellow for his midfield partner ensured the two players are suspended for Tuesday’s decisive game with North Macedonia due to disciplinary issues.

The home venue fixture is a clash the Welsh team must win to move above their rivals and guarantee a more favourable seeding in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Bellamy had an unusual perspective from the dugout, the head coach undertaking a touchline ban after receiving a further caution in the competition previously.

Bellamy’s deputy Cremers stood in in the technical area and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were at risk of suspension from being absent for the final qualifier. A pair came unstuck in situations that could really hurt Wales.

Liechtenstein, placed among the lowest-ranked in international football, had been goalless in their previous six losses and allowed 23 goals at an average of almost four per match.

The visitors as expected dominated possession as their hosts adopted a low defensive block and packed their defence.

The home goal remained unthreatened until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and James saw his shot from the penalty area pushed aside by Büchel.

A similar move created another chance, James picking out Broadhead now with a precise ball behind the defence.

Broadhead’s superb first touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker could not convert from a tight angle.

The Welsh team thought they had scored the opener after the first half when Jordan James headed a high Thomas set-piece back into a packed penalty box.

Büchel was flustered by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Welsh celebrations were curtailed when the official was sent to the video review system and ruled that at least one of the Wales defenders was in an offside position from James’s initial touch.

The visitors increased the pressure after the interval and Thomas delivered a centering pass to the opposite side which Daniel James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then headed wide from inside the six-yard box as it started to seem like one of those nights for the Welsh side.

However, with the contest having ticked into its second half, Neco Williams played a clever pass for his teammate to get in behind the Liechtenstein defenders.

James bypassed Büchel with a delightful ball along the six-yard box, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of easing Welsh tension.