With several players unavailable, including creator-in-chief Harry Wilson, Wales struggled to break down Liechtenstein’s rearguard.
The Dragons were dominant throughout the first half, but had to wait until the 19th minute for their first shot on target, when Jordan James was denied by Benjamin Buchel.
That came moments before the home goalkeeper was rounded by Nathan Broadhead, only to see the Wrexham forward miss the target with the goal at his mercy.
Broadhead was on target from a corner before the half-hour, though his celebrations were cut short when the goal was controversially ruled out.
Büchel punched the ball back into Broadhead’s path under pressure from a trio of Wales players, one of which – Joe Rodon – was adjudged to have been offside and interfering with play off after a lengthy VAR review.
Mark Harris and Jordan James were denied again before the break, with boos greeting the HT whistle from the away end.
Craig Bellamy’s men continued to push for the opener after the break, with Dan James volleying against the post before Neco Williams headed wide.
Liechtenstein’s goal was increasingly living a charmed life, and just beyond the hour, Wales finally broke the deadlock.
Williams’ brilliant reverse pass released Dan James down the right, and his square ball across the face of goal was turned home at the back post by Jordan James.
The Leicester midfielder’s first international goal immediately had the gloss taken away when he was booked just moments later though, ruling him out of Wales’ final qualifier against North Macedonia.
Midfield partner and stand-in goalkeeper joined him in the referee’s notebook – and the absentee list against North Macedonia – when he was booked in dubious fashion after appearing to cleanly win the ball.
That gave Wales’ victory – their fifth to-nil in as many matches against Liechtenstein – a slightly pyrrhic feel. As for Liechtenstein, they may not be too downcast at the result, even though it stretched their 20-year wait for a WCQ victory to 48 matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Neco Williams (Wales)