Singapore are through to the AFF Suzuki Cup final with a 1-0 aggregate win over Philippines after a Khairul Amri strike settled Wednesday's semi-final second leg.
By Gabriel Tan at the Jalan Besar Stadium
Having failed to make their chances count last Saturday as they played out a 0-0 draw at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in the first leg, the Lions ensured there would be no repeat as they saw off their opponents by a single goal, courtesy of Amri's expertly-placed 19th-minute effort.
The result also means Singapore remain on track for a record fourth title, while the Azkals were left to ponder what could have been for the second tournament running after they were eliminated in the last four two years ago by Indonesia.
Nonetheless, Radojko Avramovic's charges could arguably have made it easier for themselves if they had converted their dominance into goals at the weekend, but they set about to make amends right by pressing forward right from the opening whistle.
11 minutes in, Shaiful Esah nearly opened the scoring when he let fly with a half-volley from all of 35 yards and had Eduard Sacapano scrambling to his far post, only for the ball to sail narrowly wide.
Six minutes later, the Philippines custodian had to be alert to deny Aleksandar Duric when he punched clear a hopeful ball from Shahril Ishak after the 42-year-old had snuck in behind the opposition backline and looked set to get a header away.
However, the Lions duly took the lead two minutes later when a quick freekick by Shahdan Sulaiman to Amri caught Philippines by surprise, allowing the ex-LIONSXII man to stride towards goal and curl a sublime 20-yard effort into the bottom corner.
Two minutes after the half-hour mark, Amri came close to doubling his tally when he was gifted the ball inside the area after a poor clearance by Sacapano, but the keeper did well to recover in time and pushed his snapshot wide of the post.
Aware that scoring one of their own would severely change the complexion of the game given the away goals rule, the Azkals began to show more initiative and forced Izwan Mahbud into his first action in the 42nd minute, when he produced a smart save to keep out a first-time effort by Phil Younghusband after the ball fell into his path following a rampage down the left by Angel Guirado.
Three minutes later, the visitors had an even better chance to equalise when a terrific ball by Patrick Reichelt split the Lions defence and sent James Younghusband through on goal, but Izwan was once again equal to the task and raced off his line in time to deny to Loyola Meralco Sparks star.
In a repeat of last Saturday's game, Philippines then came out from the break with all guns blazing but were finding it difficult to break down the resilient hosts' defence, which was well marshalled by the excellent Baihakki Khaizan.
Two minutes after the hour mark, the 28-year-old did well to cut out a dangerous cross by Paul Mulders, before his centre-back partner Safuwan Baharudin did well to recover from an error and block a shot from Phil Younghusband three minutes later.
Still, the Azkals' increasingly-adventurous ways began to leave gaps at the back and Singapore should have edged further ahead in the 71st minute when Shahdan completely missed the ball with the entire goal to aim for, after Sacapano had parried a Fazrul Nawaz cross straight to him.
Straight up the other end, Phil Younghusband had another chance when he found space 20 yards from goal and drilled in a low shot, but Izwan was not to be beaten once more as he tipped the shot wide at full stretch.
Fazrul, who had come on for Mustafic Fahrudin at the break, was starting to pose a threat down the right and he caused havoc in the visitors' area again in the 78th minute with another drilled cross, but just as Irwan Shah was about the pull the trigger, Azkals captain Rob Gier came to his side's rescue with a great sliding challenge.
Four minutes from time, Philippines had one final chance to equalise and go through on away goals when a Phil Younghusband cross was headed away by Safuwan straight to the waiting Mulders on the edge of the area, but his well-struck effort was bravely blocked by Shahril.
And as the final whistle blew, it was the Lions who were left celebrating their fourth Suzuki Cup final appearance, and their first since 2007.
Singapore: Izwan Mahbud, Daniel Bennett, Baihakki Khaizan, Safuwan Baharudin, Shaiful Esah, Shahdan Sulaiman, Mustafic Fahrudin (Fazrul Nawaz 46'), Isa Halim, Khairul Amri (Irwan Shah 68'), Shahril Ishak (Firdaus Kasman 90'), Aleksandar Duric.
Philippines: Eduard Sacapano, Carli de Murga (Denis Wolf 83'), Rob Gier, Juan Luis Guirado, Dennis Cagara, James Younghusband (Demitrius Omphroy 61'), Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Patrick Reichelt (Emelio Caligdong 46'), Phil Younghusband, Angel Guirado.
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