Wales crawled to an unimpressive win in Liechtenstein as they just about managed to stay on course to finish second in their World Cup qualifying group.

The hosts, ranked 206th in the world and comprised predominantly of part-time players, defended obdurately enough to keep the game goalless at half-time, with Wales forward Nathan Broadhead having a goal disallowed for offside after a long video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Although Liechtenstein goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel was kept busy - as he is in almost every game for his perennially pummelled national side - Wales desperately lacked inspiration.

Their frustrations grew as Daniel James' volley hit a post after the interval but, an hour into the game, Wales finally made their masses of possession count as a slick move involving Neco Williams and Daniel James was finished by Jordan James from close range.

That gave the 3,000 travelling Welsh fans - who filled three of the four stands at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz - at least something to cheer on what was otherwise a night to forget.

Wales need to beat North Macedonia in their final group game in Cardiff on Tuesday to finish second behind Group J leaders Belgium and guarantee a home play-off semi-final in March.

Fail to win at Cardiff City Stadium and Craig Bellamy's side will still make the play-offs thanks to their Nations League success, but they will be away for their semi-final, which will be played over one leg.

Wales will need to improve in every facet of the game to beat North Macedonia and they will have to do it without captain Ethan Ampadu and Jordan James, who will both be suspended after being booked against Liechtenstein.

Bellamy had to watch from the stands in Vaduz because he was suspended after receiving a second yellow card of the campaign for dissent during last month's defeat by Belgium, meaning assistant boss Piet Cremers led the team in his absence.

Regardless of any disruption to their preparations, however, Wales were expected to make light work of such weak opponents.

There are only four countries in the world ranked lower than Liechtenstein, and their largely part-time team - featuring students and office workers - had failed to score a single goal in their previous six games of this campaign, conceding 23.

They had at least proven their ability to frustrate during the reverse fixture with Wales, holding out until the 40th minute in Cardiff before conceding the first goal and eventually succumbing to a 3-0 defeat.

In Vaduz, their resistance lasted even longer.

Broadhead thought he had broken it after 25 minutes, slamming in after Liechtenstein had made a mess of clearing a Wales corner but, after being sent to the screen by VAR Angelos Evangelou, referee Juxhin Xhaja disallowed the goal as Welsh players had impeded Buchel from an offside position.

Buchel had already made saves from Broadhead and Jordan James but it was a measure of how poor Wales were that Liechtenstein rarely looked panicked or overwhelmed.

The visitors were marginally better in the second half yet, for all their possession, Wales created precious few clear chances.

The goal was the standout moment of quality, Williams threading a delightful through ball to Daniel James, whose inviting low cross was slammed in by his namesake Jordan.

He took the shine off his first international goal by getting booked two minutes later. With Ampadu also getting cautioned in the second half, both midfielders will be suspended for Tuesday's match against North Macedonia.

Liechtenstein even threatened to score in stoppage time, but Wales were spared that embarrassment as Sandro Wolfinger volleyed wide.