Bayern lose but Podolski softens Ruud blow

SAITAMA, Japan, July 31 (Reuters) German champions Bayern Munich suffered an early set-back to their pre-season with a 1-0 defeat by Japan's Urawa Reds today.

Germany striker Lukas Podolski took some of the sting out of Bayern's failure to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy with a lively debut but the visitors were undone by a late Teruaki Kurobe goal.

Podolski was a constant threat and twice came close to scoring but he could little as Bayern ran out of steam late in the game.

Bayern only arrived in Japan yesterday following a 13-hour flight but Podolski looked sharp from the start, the ex-Cologne striker shaving the bar with a 29th-minute header.

Podolski, whose goals helped hosts Germany reach the World Cup semi-finals, then forced a superb save from Reds goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi with a powerful header after 56 minutes.

Japan midfielder Shinji Ono gave Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn an early scare when he curled a left-foot shot against the post from the edge of the box.

As tiredness crept into the Bayern players' legs Urawa forward Kurobe snatched the winner with a close-range header three minutes from time.

REUTERS AY RK1808