Singapore's LionsXII outfit got their new Malaysian Super League campaign off to a perfect start on Wednesday night, beating ATM FA 1-0 in Paroi, Negeri Sembilan.

Captain Shahril Ishak, last season's top scorer with 10 league goals, found the target against the run of play in the 66th minute, bundling home the loose ball after ATM goalkeeper Farizal Harun failed to hold on to Shakir Hamzah's shot.

But it was the home side which had looked more threatening for most of the game. LionsXII goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud pulled off several good saves, while the crossbar denied ATM skipper Hairuddin Omar at the start of the second half.

ATM striker Marlon James also spurned a golden opportunity in the second period, miskicking the ball in front of an open goal.

The result was sweet revenge for the LionsXII, which were beaten by ATM in last year's Malaysia Cup semi-finals. The Singapore team's next match is against arch-rivals Selangor at Jalan Besar Stadium on Saturday.