A rare Thomas Muller penalty miss proved the difference as Bayern Munich lost to Guangzhou Evergrande in the final game of their tour of Asia on Thursday.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Muller - Bayern's regular penalty-taker - missed with their first spot-kick in Guangzhou.
The hosts converted all of their penalties against Bayern's back-up goalkeeper Ivan Lucic, who had replaced Manuel Neuer at half-time and done well to ensure the Bavarians even forced a penalty shoot-out.
It earned Luiz Felipe Scolari's champions of China victory in the Volkswagen Cup.
"It was a good game and the players did a good job, so I'm happy," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said at the post-match press conference.
Bayern were due to return to Germany immediately after the game, arriving back in Munich on Friday morning.
Their next appointment is with Wolfsburg in the German Supercup on August 1.
Source: PA
