The LionsXII suffered heartbreak on Friday night, as they were held to a 1-1 draw after a last-gasp equaliser in a Malaysian Super League (MSL) match in Kuantan.

The draw meant that V. Sundramoorthy's men now have 35 points after 17 games at the top of the 12-team table, two points ahead of Malaysian military team ATM. There are five matches left in the league.

Captain Shahril Ishak scored the opening goal in the 11th minute, when he curled a free kick into the bottom corner from 20 metres out to silence the 25,000 home fans.

Winger Nazrul Nazari nearly doubled the lead in the 38th minute, when he rounded goalkeeper Rosfaizul Azuar Ali but blasted over an open goal.

After the break, Pahang laid siege on the Singapore goal but were frustrated by the visitors' stout defending.

But Dollah Salleh's men rescued a point deep into stoppage time when striker Azammuddin Akil equalised with a spectacular diving header.

The draw also ensures that Sundram's men remain unbeaten in the MSL since Jan 22, a run of 12 games, when it lost 1-0 away at T-Team.