Singapore: A brilliant 81st minute goal from substitute Khairul Amri helped Singapore secure a vital 1-1 draw with Thailandon Sunday (Feb 4, 2007)and claim their third ASEAN Football Championship title.

Leading 2-1 following last Wednesday's  (Feb 7, 2007)highly controversial first leg in the island republic, Singapore played second fiddle to a rampant Thai side throughout the stirring encounter in Bangkok, and were trailing to Pipat Thonkanya’s first half strike until Amri struck to seal a tense 3-2 aggregate win for the Lions.

Not surprisingly, the Lions’ head coach, Radojko Avramovic, was delighted with his team's victory - success that sees Singapore equalling Thailand's hat-trick of Asean crowns.

"It was a great game. A real final. We achieved what we wanted and that was to score a goal. We expected the pressure and we coped without any problems really. We missed at least three open goals and that was my only complaint," beamed the Serb.

With ASEAN still reeling from the final’s disgraceful first leg scenes when an indignant Thai team marched off the pitch in protest at the awarding of a late and decisive Singaporean penalty, a heavy police presence greeted both teams as they ran out at a packed Suphachalasai Stadium.

Singapore, minus the services of influential forward Indra Sahdan Daud, came close to grabbing an early lead as Shahril Ishak stabbed home only to have his effort chalked off for offside. It proved to be a distinctly rare moment of brightness for the visitors.

Buoyed by raucous home support and with the injury plagued Kiatisuk Senamuang recalled to the bench, Thailand laid siege to Singapore's goal.

First Pichitphong Choechiu tested Lions custodian Lionel Lewis with a shot from distance before Datsakorn Thonglao’s curling 17th minute free-kick forced Lewis into a spectacular save.

Moments later, Lewis, who plies his trade with Home United, once again came to Singapore’s rescue when he reacted brilliantly to deny the ever-lively Pipat. The almost inevitable breakthrough came after 37 minutes.

Datsakorn, a constant thorn in the side of Asean's reigning champions, sent an inch perfect pass over Singapore’s backline that Pipat crashed past Lewis to register the striker's second goal of the final and spark wild celebration amongst the massed ranks of Thai fans.

Level on aggregate, Thailand poured forward in the second half and were within inches of going ahead only to see Singapore’s Noh Rahman stop Suchao Nutnum’s close range strike with a desperate last-ditch block.

Against the run of play, Singapore restored parity in spectacular fashion. Having only been tested by a tame second half attempt by the tournament's leading goalscorer and Most Valuable Player, Noh Alam Shah, Thai goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa was unable to prevent Amri's powerful drive from just inside the box finding the back of the net.

In a flash, Singapore had turned potential heartache into unmitigated delight leaving Thailand to rue their missed chances and, no doubt, a disputed penalty.