The team got off to the perfect start beating Laos 2-1 overnight ensuring a semi-finl berth for the Sydneysiders regardless of the result against Malaysia on Wednesday.

Laos opened the scoring on 26 minutes with a goal by Sivong Song, but a strong second half by the Sky Blues sealed the win.

Christopher Naumoff,17, drew Sydney FC level on the hour and Josh MacDonald, 16, fired the Aussies ahead with just two minutes to spare.

Brian Dene’s squad won the luck of the draw over the Newcastle Jets youth team to compete in the tournament after the Young Socceroos were unable to attend because of commitments in Portugal.

Football Federation Australia told the Sky Blues last week and the team flew out of Sydney on Friday before the start of the 2012/13 National Youth League season.

In the other group, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand face-off with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals on Friday night.

The final and third and fourth play-off matches are set down for Sunday evening.

Dene described it as a “whirlwind experience” for his young 19-member squad which includes seven Sky Blues under the age of 18, three train-on players and three from the NSW Institute of sport.

Dene told au.fourfourtwo.com from Pleiku: “I can’t tell you how excited these kids are and how much it’s opened their eyes up to Asia.

“I don’t think they really understood how much it means to be involved in the Asian Football Confederation and to be involved in an official tournament.

“It’s a real eye-opener and a real cultural experience for them. For most of them it’s a totally new experience.

“The opportunity of getting together with their teammates for a pre-season in Asia is something none of them would have expected in their wildest dreams.”

Sydney FC also see it as an opportunity to promote the club’s brand in Asia. Dene has already filed three television interviews since arriving and there is daily newspaper coverage of the team.

The coach added: “This is a tremendous pre-season opportunity for the boys and also for Sydney FC to play in such a well organised youth tournament.

“There were 10,000 people at the opening ceremony on Saturday when the first matches were played and this will be a great experience for the players.

“It comes at the perfect time for our team as we are about to start the NYL season and it will be very interesting to see how we go against some of the best 21 year-old in the Asian region.

"We have a young side but I know they will do themselves and Sydney FC proud.”

Sydney FC's win means their first round NYL match against the AIS will be postponed. Their next game is a curtain-raiser to the first team’s clash against Perth Glory at ANZ Stadium in round four of the A-League.