KUALA LUMPUR: The unpredictable weather did little to dampen the spirits of Malaysian football fans who packed the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today for the first leg of the AFF Cup semi-finals before the 8.30pm kick-off.
The match between Harimau Malaya and six-time champions Thailand drew a sellout crowd as 59,000 tickets were snapped up a day before the game.
The 80,000-capacity stadium was reduced by 21,000 seats due to the installation of a stage for Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou's concert on Jan 15.
It was a carnival atmosphere outside the stadium, with fans turning up as early as 3pm despite the searing heat, and it was brisk business for the food and drinks stalls.
As the stadium's gates opened at 5.30pm, fans started to pour in to fill up the seats while some hung banners around the stadium.
The stadium's stands were quickly filled up by a sea of black and yellow despite a sudden downpour around 7pm.
The Ultra Malaya fans group started their chanting, which brought an electrifying atmosphere to the stadium.
Nonetheless, Thai fans at the stadium still made their presence felt despite in a smaller number in their sector of the stadium.
The local fans' cheering reached a crescendo when the Malaysia players and head coach Kim Pan-gon took to the pitch to warm up for the match.
South Korean Pan-gon made only one change to his starting XI, bringing in the experienced English-born midfielder Lee Tuck for youngster Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi.
Malaysia are looking to keep their unbeaten run (three wins and two draws) at Bukit Jalil
against Thailand since 2014.
It's game on as world No 145 Malaysia battle world No 111 Thailand.