Singapore Armed Forces defeated Muangthong United 4-3 on penalties at Jalan Besar Stadium to secure their place in the group stage of the Asian Champions League. Pakasit Saesook missed the decisive penalty to ensure the home side will play in Asia's premier tournament for the second successive season.

Muangthong had been the better side in the first half, almost opening the scoring after just four minutes when Ivory Coast forward Christian Kouakou was unmarked inside the area, but headed straight at goalkeeper Shahril Jantan.

The hosts had to wait until the 42nd minute to register their first real effort as Japanese winger Taisuke Akiyoshi hit a speculative shot from outside the area. Muangthong's best chance came on the stroke of half-time as captain Nataporn Phanrit fired agonisingly wide with the goal at his mercy.

It was an excellent game and I thought the whole team rose to the occasion.
Singapore Armed Forces coach Richard Bok

SAF got into the game more in the second half and had a number of chances to open the scoring. Daniel Bennett had his header cleared off the line, while Shaiful Esah hit the post with a minute remaining. Neither side could find a breakthrough in the 30 minutes of extra time.

"It was an excellent game and I thought the whole team rose to the occasion," said SAF coach Richard Bok. "It's a mixture of relief and happiness in the end that we are through to the group stage for the second year in a row.

"We trained hard and knew we would be up against tough opponents. They came at us and we repelled them and when it came to penalties, that's a lottery."