by Brian Martin

MANY parts of Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur came alive early yesterday morning as die-hard football fans gathered to watch the live coverage of the European Champions Cup Final.

Football fever gripped the Klang Valley as the match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United was shown live over Astro and Mega TV.

Fans, late night revellers and insomniacs cramped themselves into pubs, nightspots, mamak stalls and houses of friends to watch the biggest football match of the year.

With Manchester United playing in their first European Cup Final after 31 years, their hordes of Malaysian fans were not going to be discouraged by the 2.45am kickoff time. Pubs and nightspots, which had installed Astro or Mega TV, made good business as customers flocked to their outlets as early as midnight. Some nightspots had come up with special offers and freebies to lure the fans.

The Pepsi sponsored ``football fiesta'' at the Emporium in Jalan Sultan Ismail was filled with about 500 fans.

Mamak stalls in Section 14, SS3 and SS2 Petaling Jaya and restaurants in Kuala Lumpur which showed the game live were also packed with patrons.

The atmosphere at all these outlets was electrifying. English football has a large following in Malaysia, and fans are not hesitant to show their support for the teams.

Liverpool fan Mervin Doss from Ipoh, who watched the match at the Section 14 Mamak stall said even though his team was not playing, the match was too important to miss.

``I wanted Bayern to win, and I think that United were lucky to get those last minute goals,'' he said.

United fan Yaing Mei Mei, who watched the match at the Backyard Pub in Taman Sri Hartamas, said the pub was packed and she could hardly move.

``But the atmosphere was fantastic and the result was just incredible,'' she said.

Some houseowners organised parties for their friends and merry-making at these places went on until dawn.

There was a house in Subang Jaya where the owner had put up a tent to allow a group of about 50 people to watch the game on the a big screen TV.

A large group of fans had gathered at the Manchester United Supporters Club in SS2, Petaling Jaya to watch their team create history.

And with Manchester United winning 2-1 and completing the historic treble, fans of the Red Devils went home happy.

Pix: NAIL-BITING ... Tense moments at the Backyard Pub in the 90th minute.

Pix: EUPHORIA ... Seconds later after United scored the equaliser

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