The Warriors are through to the AFC Champions League group stages for the second straight season after a nail-biting 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Thai champions Muang Thong United at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday (6 Feb).

Scoring chances were aplenty but neither side failed to find the net in 120 minutes of stalemate.

Muang Thong were faster to settle down and they took the game to the Warriors, creating several chances.

The Warriors, who were without injured Uruguayan striker Federico Martinez, weathered much of the onslaught and relied on breakthroughs by Taisuke Akiyoshi, Ahmad Latiff and Mustaqim Manzur to feed Indra Sahdan upfront.

Slowly but surely,the Warriors started to probe the Muang Thong backline.

Mustaqim had a good curler tipped over by Muangthong goalkeepr Kawin Thamsatchanan in the second half and from the subsequent corner, Daniel Bennett's header was cleared off the line.

Next was Indra's turn, flicking the ball over the bar with just Kawin to beat.

With a minute left, Shaiful Esah's freekick deflected off the post.

Not long after, the referee's whistle blew. Thirty minutes of extra-time deadlock ensued, which meant the match had to be decided on penalties.

The hero of the night was undoubtedly Warriors captain, goalkeeper Shahril Jantan, who saved the Thais' second penalty by Panupong Wongsa.

Although Taisuke Akiyoshi's effort, the Warriors fifth penalty, was also saved, Pakasit Saensook's blast over the bar meant that the Warriors scrape through to meet Gamba Osaka, Suwon Bluewings and Henan Jianye.

Said Warriors coach Richard Bok: "It was an excellent game and I thought the whole team rose to the occasion.

"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.

"Football is about scoring goals and in the end we won and so be it.”

The Warriors will kick off their AFC Champions League Group G campaign with an away trip to China's Henan Jianye on 24 Feb.

Team: Shahril Jantan (GK), Noh Rahman, Ivan Lovric (Rhysh Roshan Rai 91st), Daniel Bennett, Shaiful Esah, Niklas Sandberg, Taisuke Akiyoshi, Ahmad Latiff, Mustaqim Manzur (Erwan Gunawan 114th), John Wilkinson, Indra Sahdan

Referee: Kim Dong Jin

Crowd: 2,809

Warriors' AFC Champions League Group G schedule

24 Feb - Henan Jianye v SAFFC (Hang Hai Stadium, 8pm)

10 Mar - SAFFC v Suwon Bluewings (Jalan Besar Stadium, 7.30pm)

23 Mar - SAFFC v Gamba Osaka (Jalan Besar Stadium, 7.30pm)

31 Mar - Gamba Osaka v SAFFC (Expo 70 Stadium, 7pm)

13 Apr - SAFFC v Henan Jianye (Jalan Besar Stadium, 7.30pm)

27 Apr - Suwon Bluewings v SAFFC (Suwon World Cup Stadium, 7.30pm)