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Wales earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against international minnows Liechtenstein to keep alive their aspirations of World Cup progress.

The young midfielder scored his maiden goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s group of professionals, amateurs and part-timers had resisted for more than 60 minutes. The scorer wheeled away in elation with his visible excitement echoed by the three thousand Wales fans filling multiple stands of the Rheinpark Stadion in the capital.

Moments later, though, Jordan James was cautioned and a further yellow for his midfield partner ensured both midfielders are suspended for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to accumulated bookings.

The home venue fixture is a clash Wales have to secure victory in to leapfrog North Macedonia and secure a improved seeding in the playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual view from the sidelines, Bellamy completing a technical area prohibition after receiving a further caution in the competition previously.

The manager's number two his assistant stood in in the coaching zone and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Williams – were one caution from from being absent for the concluding match. A pair were booked in moments that may damage their team.

Liechtenstein, situated near the bottom in international football, had failed to score in their winless run and conceded twenty-three times at an rate of around four per fixture.

The visitors predictably dominated possession as their hosts employed a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until the forward's pressing won possession and Jordan James saw his attempt from the 18-yard line saved by the goalkeeper.

That pairing crafted an opportunity, James picking out his teammate this time with a accurate ball into space.

Broadhead’s fine first touch evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a difficult angle.

Wales believed they'd scored the opener after the opening period when Jordan James nodded a deep Thomas corner back into a packed penalty box.

The Liechtenstein keeper was flustered by Lawlor and Rodon, and his poor clearance fell to Nathan Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Wales' elation were cut short when the official was directed to the pitchside monitor and decided that one or more of the Welsh defenders was in an offside position from James’s header.

The visitors raised the tempo after the half-time and Thomas provided a ball to the opposite side which Daniel James hit the crossbar.

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

Yet, with the contest having entered its second half, Neco Williams played a clever pass for his teammate to run past the Liechtenstein defenders.

Daniel James bypassed the goalkeeper with a delightful ball into the danger area, and his teammate Jordan James had the straightforward task of easing Welsh nerves.