AFC - Iran came from a goal down to defeat a Laos side that made the AFC U-16 Championship hosts work hard for the 3-1 victory in their Group A opener on Saturday.

Anousay Noyvong stunned the hosts when he put the South East Asians one-up with just two minutes on the PAS Stadium clock but Iran quickly gained the ascendancy with Amirmohammad Mazloum bagging a brace with goals either side of a Seyedmajid Hosseini effort after his initial spot-kick had been saved.

Iran, champions in 2008 and runners-up in 2000 in Vietnam, where the clear favourites going into Saturday's second Group A fixture following Kuwait's 1-1 draw with Yemen, but remarkably it was Laos that took the lead after just two minutes played through midfielder Anousay Noyvong.

However, parity was restored in the 17th minute when Amirmohammad Mazloum equalised at the second time of asking after Vathana Keodouangdeth had saved his initial effort.

The luckless Laotian was beaten again two minutes later when Seyedmajid Hosseini drilled home the rebound after Vathana had blocked the Iran skipper's 19th minute penalty, awarded after midfielder Mohammadreza Bazaj was fouled in the box.

Iran were in the ascendancy but couldn't add to their tally in the remainder of the first-half but just two minutes after the interval Mazloum got his second and the tournament hosts third as Ali Doustimehr's side continued to assert their authority.

Iran dominated possession and with 15 minutes remaining Saeid Ezatolahi's bullet header drew a fine reflex save from Vathana before Sasan Jafari headed wide from the resultant corner.

The pattern of the game continued but the earlier exertions of the players started taking their toll with numerous misplaced passes and mistimed tackles as Iran emerged with the three points that took them to the top of the Group A table after the first round of matches.