The LionsXII will take a slender 2-1 lead into next week's second leg of the Malaysian FA Cup semi-final match after first-half goals from Faris Ramli and Khairul Nizam secured victory over Terengganu at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday evening.

The home side opened the scoring in the 30th minute after relentless pressure from the first whistle when a Gabriel Quak free-kick from the right flank was headed away by the Terengganu defence straight onto Nizam's path. The striker drilled his shot into the bottom corner of the net to put the LionsXII ahead.

Four minutes later, Faris added the second after Nazrul Nazari's cross had somehow evaded everyone in the box. Faris, though was on hand to emphatically thump the ball in at the far post to put the hosts in control of the first leg. It was the first goal conceded in the competition by the Singaporean side after four previous clean sheets.

The LionsXII however conceded in the 39th minute when Safuwan Baharudin tripped playmaker Gustavo Lopez just outside the box. The Argentinian then took the resultant free-kick and sent it beyond the reach of goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.

Terengganu, nicknamed the Turtles, will hope to add to the precious away goal in the second leg of the semi-final that will be played at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium on May 16.