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The Welsh side claimed a hard-fought 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup finals qualification.

Wales' James claimed his maiden international strike for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had held out for over an hour. The scorer ran off in joy with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Welsh fans filling most sections of the venue in Vaduz.

Shortly after, however, Jordan James was booked and another booking for Ethan Ampadu resulted in the two players are suspended for the upcoming decisive game with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

That home venue contest is a game the Welsh team need to win to leapfrog North Macedonia and obtain a more favourable position in the playoffs in March.

Bellamy had an different view from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a sideline suspension after receiving a second yellow card in the qualifiers previously.

Bellamy’s number two Cremers took his place in the dugout and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from missing the last group game. Both James and Ampadu came unstuck in situations that may damage their team.

Their opponents, placed 206 out of 210 teams in international football, had failed to score in their previous six losses and allowed 23 goals at an rate of around four per match.

Wales as expected controlled the ball as Liechtenstein employed a low defensive block and defended in numbers.

Liechtenstein's net saw little action until Nathan Broadhead high press won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the edge of the box parried by the goalkeeper.

A similar move worked the next opening, James finding Broadhead on this occasion with a precise delivery into space.

Broadhead’s fine touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker failed to finish from a narrow position.

The Welsh team thought they had taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James headed a lofted Thomas set-piece back into a crowded goal area.

Büchel was flustered by Dylan Lawlor and Rodon, and his feeble attempt landed with Nathan Broadhead who scored decisively. But Wales' joy were cut short when the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor and decided that one or more of the Welsh centre-halves was in an offside from James’s header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Sorba Thomas sent in a ball to the back post which the winger hit the crossbar.

Williams then missed with a header from within the penalty box as it started to seem like a difficult match for the Welsh side.

However, with the match having ticked into its final half-hour, Williams delivered a intelligent through ball for his teammate to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James cut out the goalkeeper with a superb pass into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan had the straightforward task of easing Welsh anxiety.