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Wales claimed a tight 1-0 victory over underdogs Liechtenstein to maintain their hopes of World Cup qualification.

Jordan James scored his first international strike for the national team from inside the box after the home side's group of professionals, amateurs and students had resisted for over an hour. James ran off in elation with his clear emotion echoed by the large contingent of Wales followers filling multiple stands of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, however, Jordan James was shown a yellow card and another yellow for his midfield partner means the pair are suspended for Tuesday’s decisive game with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

That Cardiff City Stadium contest is a game the Welsh team have to secure victory in to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a better position in the qualifying playoffs in March.

The Wales manager had an unusual vantage point from the dugout, the head coach completing a technical area prohibition after being shown a second yellow card in the competition last month.

The manager's assistant his assistant stood in in the technical area and several key players – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were a booking away from missing the concluding match. Two of them were booked in moments that might hamper their team.

Their opponents, placed among the lowest-ranked in global rankings, had not scored in their previous six losses and let in 23 goals at an rate of nearly four per game.

Wales as expected had most of the play as their hosts lay in a low defensive block and packed their defence.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead high press won possession and James saw his effort from the penalty area parried by Benjamin Büchel.

That pairing worked the next opening, Jordan picking out Broadhead on this occasion with a precise pass over the top.

Broadhead’s excellent control took him past Büchel but the forward was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales felt they taken the lead after the first half when Jordan James headed a deep Sorba Thomas corner back into a congested goal area.

The Liechtenstein keeper was under pressure by Dylan Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch reached Broadhead who drove home emphatically. But Welsh celebrations were cut short when the official was directed to the video review system and determined that at least one of the Wales central defenders was in an offside position from Jordan's header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the half-time and Sorba Thomas delivered a cross to the back post which Daniel James rattled against the frame of the goal.

Williams then missed with a header from inside the goal area as it began to look like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

However, with the game having reached its second half, Williams executed a shrewd through ball for Daniel James to break behind the opposition backline.

Daniel James beat Büchel with a superb cross across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy task of ending Wales' nerves.