The LionsXII have extended their lead at the top of the Malaysia Super League (MSL) to four points after beating PKNS 3-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium this evening.

With the victory, the team's ninth home win on the trot, V. Sundramoorthy's men now have 38 points from 18 games, ahead of nearest challengers Johor Darul Takzim (34 points) and ATM (33 points) in the 12-team standings.

In a goal-less first-half, the visitors' defensive tactics, sitting deep inside their own half and marking tightly, frustrated the LionsXII. And the hosts were denied a penalty in the 45th minute when captain Shahril Ishak was sent tumbling inside the PKNS box after left-back P. Kunalan barged into the attacking midfielder.

But PKNS crumbled in the 54th minute when midfielder Hariss Harun outjumped his marker and met Shahril's corner with a thumping header to put the home side ahead.

Five minutes later, right winger Nazrul Nazari picked up Shahril's through ball and blasted home as his shot looped over goalkeeper Remezey Che Ros after a deflection off Gunalan.

And in the 90th minute, substitute Khairul Nizam, making his return after rupturing his knee ligaments, latched onto right-back Faritz Hameed's through ball before the striker placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

In stoppage time, PKNS striker Patrick Ronaldinho Wleh scored a consolation with a looping header.