The first batch of tickets for the 2008 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup first leg semifinal between Vietnam and Singapore on Wednesday sold out in frenzy in Hanoi Sunday.

At two ticket offices at My Dinh Stadium, the first 1,000 tickets were sold in twenty minutes and another 1,000 tickets were sold in another 40 minutes.

Two-thirds of the ticket buyers were touts so ticket sales were limited to only two per person, leading to total chaos at the booths.

It was such a jostle for position that buyers had to grip the iron gate with one hand and hold out the money for the tickets with the other.

Tickets also sold quickly at two other ticket agents in Vo Thi Sau and Hoang Cau streets, according to the head of ticket distribution, Pham Hung Viet.

Viet said that all of the 26,000 tickets authorized for the event would be sold.

Reported by Lan Phuong