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Wales claimed a narrow 1-0 success over underdogs Liechtenstein to sustain their chances of World Cup finals qualifying.

The young midfielder claimed his maiden goal for the national team from near the goal after Liechtenstein’s assorted collection of full-time players, amateurs and students had resisted for the majority of the match. The scorer ran off in joy with his visible excitement echoed by the 3,000 Welsh fans filling three sides of the stadium in Vaduz.

Moments later, though, Jordan James was cautioned and a further booking for his midfield partner means the pair are ruled out for Tuesday’s crunch tie with their next opponents due to disciplinary issues.

The home venue match is a game Wales need to win to leapfrog their rivals and guarantee a better draw in the qualifying playoffs in next spring.

Craig Bellamy had an unfamiliar vantage point from the dugout, Bellamy serving a technical area prohibition after being shown a second yellow card in the tournament last month.

The manager's assistant Piet Cremers took his place in the technical area and multiple first-teamers – Jordan James, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams – were at risk of suspension from sitting out the last group game. Both James and Ampadu were booked in situations that might hamper Wales.

Their opponents, situated among the lowest-ranked in international football, had not scored in their previous six losses and allowed 23 times at an rate of almost four per match.

Wales predictably controlled the ball as Liechtenstein adopted a compact shape and got bodies behind the ball.

Liechtenstein's net was rarely tested until Broadhead pressing won possession and James saw his shot from the 18-yard line parried by Benjamin Büchel.

The same combination created another chance, James finding Broadhead this time with a accurate ball over the top.

The attacker's fine control evaded the keeper but the Wrexham striker was unable to score from a tight angle.

Wales believed they'd taken the lead after the opening period when Jordan James headed a deep Thomas set-piece back into a packed goal area.

Büchel was harassed by Lawlor and Joe Rodon, and his weak punch fell to Broadhead who finished powerfully. But Wales' joy were curtailed when the match official was instructed to the video review system and ruled that at least one of the Wales centre-halves was in an offside from Jordan's header.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Sorba Thomas provided a ball to the back post which Daniel James struck the crossbar.

Neco Williams then missed with a header from within the six-yard box as it started to seem like a frustrating evening for the Welsh side.

But, with the game having reached its second half, Neco Williams delivered a intelligent through ball for his teammate to run past the home defence.

Daniel James bypassed Büchel with a superb pass across the face of goal, and his namesake Jordan had the easy task of relieving Wales' tension.