Accra Hearts of Oak recorded a 1-0 defeat to Golden Kicks in a friendly encounter at the Pobiman Sports Complex on Saturday.
Hearts dominated large periods of the match, particularly in the second half, but were unable to convert their chances against a resilient Golden Kick defense.
The Phobians increased the tempo after the break, pushing forward in search of the opener.
Mawuli Wayo proved a constant threat on the flank and nearly created the breakthrough in the 71st minute when he surged into the penalty area and delivered a dangerous cross.
However, the ball narrowly evaded Hamza Issah as the Golden Kick goalkeeper collected it comfortably.
Hearts continued to apply pressure and came close again in the 83rd minute when a corner caused confusion in the Golden Kick penalty area. A goal-bound header was dramatically cleared off the line by a defender to keep the scores level.
Golden Kick eventually snatched the winner in the 87th minute, finishing off a swift attack to seal the narrow victory.
Despite the loss, the match provided Hearts with valuable preparation ahead of their next league fixture.