Bangkok: The Qatar U-16 national team lost 2-3 to Iran in the opening match of Group D in the 2014 AFC championship for U-16 teams currently taking place in Thailand. Qatar, who won the title in 1990, play in Group D alongside Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Coach Oscar Fernandez could not have envisaged a more encouraging way tobegin the match as the young Qataris raced into a quick lead just inside five minutes as striker Hassan Palang personified coolness after being set up by winger Abdulrasheed Umaru. Iran's response came in the 24th minute when for the first time, Qatar's defense was exposed and were punished by Iran's star player Reza Karimi who slipped behind a less than attentive backline to score a well deserved equalizer. Qatar kept hold of the ball well in the opening stages, but had little to show for their efforts asKhalid Muneer's goal bound effort was deflected out for a corner in the 32nd minute before Hassan Palang fired wide two minutes later. Reza Shekari put Iran ahead in the 58th through a powerful long range strike, Qatar quickly went back on the attack in search of a response with Khalid Muneer crossing from the right to an unmarked Rasheed Umaru at the back post in the 67th minute, but his header was superbly cleared off the line by keeper Farid Nejatp. However, Hassan Palange was on target for the second time when he skillfully lobbed the ball over the keeper to announce himself as one of Qatar's most exciting up and coming football talents. But it was Iranian midfielder Reza Shekari who had the last word when he sealed a keenly fought contest when eh capitalized on a defensive blunder that saw the keeper and the two centre backs fail more than once to clear the ball, giving the tall No.8 the chance to score from close range. Qatar will now play Syria on September 9 while Iran takes on Saudi Arabia. Qatar line-up: Mohammed Saeed (GK) Khalifa Saad (C), Khalid Mubarak, Meshaal Ibrahim, Abdulrasheed Umaru, Nasser Al Ahrak, Hassan Palang, Khalid Muneer, Abdulrahman Rashid, Fahd Ahmed, Khalid Idris. Iran line-up: Farid Nejatp (GK), Nima Daghestani, Ali Reza Aghbarari, Mehredad Aboulghasem, Vahid Aftari, Reza Shekari, Reza Karimi, Nima Mokhtar, Hesam Shoulami, Mohammed Soltani and Mehran Drekhshanmerhr.