In Singapore, the tickets were sold out in a mere six hours. About 1,000 die-hard Malaysian fans made their way across the Causeway even though half of them were without tickets.
This was a clash that fans of both sides have been talking about for weeks and they would have left the Jalan Besar Stadium contented last night, as the Causeway derby lived up to its hype, and then some.
Singapore ran out 5-3 winners in a game that saw a goal scored after just 25 seconds, two red cards, a hint of trouble on the stands, and hearts worn proudly on sleeves out on the Jalan Besar green.
"For a long time the team has not played so effectively and creatively as they did in this game. We created chances and scored goals, we just need to look at how not to concede," said Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic.
Aleksandar Duric bagged a brace, with Qiu Li, Shi Jiayi and Mustafic Fahrudin also finding the net, with Mustafic and Hariss Harun mammoths in the Singapore midfield.
Safee Sali scored twice for Malaysia, with substitute Abdul Hadi Yahaya's goal ensuring that the tie is far from dead when it returns to the 90,000-capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium on Thursday.
"Probably the players went crazy. They looked nervous, lost, like they didn't know what they were doing, it was like they were hypnotised," said Malaysia coach K Rajagobal of his charges' shoddy first-half showing.
"The scoreline was crazy, but the most important thing was that we got three away goals. We have no choice, we have to win," he added of the second leg.
"I'm an optimistic man, there's 90 minutes left to play and football can be crazy. Score two goals, don't concede any, and we're there ... I am confident."
Part of Rajagobal's confidence surely comes from the fact that Bukit Jalil will be turned into a cauldron when Singapore visit, with Malaysia's proverbial 12th man spewing venom from the stands.
The new-look Singapore defence - Izwan Mahbud in goal, Daniel Bennett, Safuwan Baharudin and fullbacks Juma'at Jantan and Ismail Yunos - did not give a glowing account of themselves last night, and there is a fear that the intimidating atmosphere may see them wobble.
"I don't think the defence can play any worse. You can't say that they are not good players, but there's not really much to do (about it), it's up to the players to pick themselves up," said a visibly disappointed Avramovic.
"In some parts of the game they were successful, but at critical moments they were out of position and it cost us those goals."
The Serb's Lions have a proven track record of standing tall in the heat of away grounds - Singapore beating Thailand 1-0 at the Rajamangala Stadium in 2009 and Indonesia 2-0 at the feared Senayan Stadium at the 2008 Suzuki Cup.
And Singapore will be looking for a result at Bukit Jalil.
Said Avramovic: "We really wanted to win this game, it was important for us to win and we'll try to win every game. We are capable of winning there, but so are Malaysia."
The Lions will be without Ismail Yunos, who received two yellow cards last night, while Malaysia have to cope without skipper Safiq Rahim who was also sent off.
The Lions leave for Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
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