SINGAPORE - Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic cut a relieved figure after the defending champions reached the Asean Football Championship final, winning a tense penalty shoot-out against Malaysia in the second leg of the semi-finals.

Playing in front of a full house of 55,000, Singapore edged out their neighbours 5-4 in the shoot-out after a 1-1 draw on the night saw the tie finishing 2-2 on aggregate.

"In games like this, we must be prepared for everything," said Avramovic, whose Singapore side are unbeaten in 13 consecutive Asean Football Championship matches, stretching back to 2004.

"In the end, we needed extra time and ultimately, the decision came down to penalties, which was the hardest thing for both teams to take.

"I think it was a good even game between two well-matched teams but I think that today we got great support and it was nice to win this game, both for them (the supporters) and for us."

Avramovic was pleased with the contribution of custodian Lionel Lewis, who gifted Malaysia a second-half goal after allowing an Eddy Helmi shot to bobble over his body, but stopped Khyril Muhymeen with the final spot-kick of the shoot-out to give his side victory.

"That's part of life of being a goalkeeper that everyone sees their mistakes," said Avramovic, a former keeper himself.

"There are many mistakes that take place on the field during the game, sometimes finishing in goals and sometimes not.

"But he didn't lose his concentration and his will to win the game. He kept going and in the end, he won the game for us."

It was the third penalty shoot-out success that Avramovic's charges had enjoyed against Malaysia in less than a year, following victories against their arch-rivals in a pair of Causeway Challenge matches last year.

Norizan Bakar was reluctant to comment after his side's heartbreaking defeat, but the Malaysia coach praised his charges for their courageous performance.

"I think that the boys played their heart out tonight but this is football and it had to end up this way," the Malaysia coach said.

"You can plan things for the game but other things can happen during the course of it that can affect the outcome.

"I don't want to comment on every little incident in the game because I felt that my boys did their best and put up a brave effort, but congratulations to Singapore and I wish them the best in the final."