Kaizer Chiefs suffered a 2-1 defeat to Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente in their final pre-season clash in the Netherlands on Wednesday evening.
Youngsters Naledi Hlongwane, Thulani Mabaso and Mfundo Vilakazi were handed starts while new signing Ethan Chislett got his first start in the midfield alongside Thabo Cele and Gaston Sirino.
Twente got into some good positions in the early stages of the first half as they managed to test goalkeeper Brandon Petersen on a couple occasions, while they also had a goal disallowed in the opening 10 minutes.
Chiefs, meanwhile, showed glimpses of their attacking prowess in the first half but they look livelier whenever threatened with Vilakazi down the right flank.
However, the Dutch top-flight side made their dominance count just before the halftime break when Daan Rots sent a powerful header past Brandon Petersen after getting on the end of Taylor Booth's cross.
Coach Nasreddine Nabi made a few changes at the start of the second half by throwing on the likes of Thabiso Monyane, Glody Lilepo, Nkanyiso Shinga, George Matlou, Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Tashreeq Morris.
Chiefs were afforded a lifeline on 68 minutes after being awarded a penalty for the Twente goalkeeper's foul on Pule Mmodi in the box. Captain Inácio Miguel stepped up and saw his spot-kick saved, but he reacted quickest to slam home from the rebound to level matters.
The Soweto giants went close to taking the lead with seven minutes on the clock as Wandile Duba did well to hold the ball up before picking out Lilepo, who dragged his low strike just wide of the upright.
Chiefs were made to rue that miss as Twente took the lead a minute later when Mitchell van Bergen burst into the box on from the right flank before picking out Sayfallah Ltaief, who made no mistake from close-range to seal the win.
The Soweto giants will be back in action on 26 July when they take on Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko SC in the Toyota Cup.
Here's how they lines up:
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Kwinika, Frosler, Miguel, Solomons, Mabaso, Cele, Chislett, Sirino, Vilakazi, Hlongwane
