Aleksandar Rankovic’s side were awarded a penalty after only 15 seconds, referee Payam Heidari pointing to the spot when goalkeeper Kittipong Phoothawchuek upended Shawal in the area as he attempted to latch onto Lestienne’s through ball.

Lestienne calmly converted the penalty, sending Kittipong the wrong way as he struck his left foot shot home.

Diogo Costa threatened to add a second nine minutes later, lashing Shawal’s lay-off over Kittipong’s bar before the game entered into a lull as both sides cancelled one another out.

Proceedings sparked back into life as the end of the half approached, however, with Tristan Do forcing Lion City’s Izwan Mahbud into action when he dropped to his left to save a free kick from wide on the left while Melvyn Lorenzen headed over the bar soon after.

Ramselaar then shot over the bar at the other end before the home side added the second on the night three minutes into first half injury time to solidify their hold on the tie.

Lestienne’s vision allowed the Belgian to unlock the Muangthong defence as he thumped a precision pass from deep into the path of Shawal, who in turn rolled the ball across goal for Ramselaar to slide in at the far post to score.

Shawal put the result beyond doubt in the 63rd minute when he was released into space by Hariss Harun’s from the halfway line, the Singapore striker nonchalantly lifting the ball over Kittipong to score.

The Thais attempted to rouse themselves in a belated attempt to find a consolation, with Thiraphon Yoyoei going closest in the 83rd minute, but Shawal put the icing on Lion City’s emphatic win two minutes from time.

The striker pounced to slam home from close range after Kittipong parried a low shot from Lennart Thy that was destined for the corner to seal their progress in style.