JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Manuel Pellegrini's spell in charge of Manchester City started with a 2-0 defeat by South African side Supersport in the first match of the Premier League side's pre-season campaign.

The Chilean, 59, left Malaga to take over as Roberto Mancini's successor at the Etihad Stadium last month.

But second-half goals from Mame Niang and Kermit Erasmus ensured that Pellegrini, who fielded a different team in each half in Pretoria, began with a defeat in the Nelson Mandela Invitational match at Loftus Versfeld.

The 2012 Premier League champions are next in action when they face AmaZulu in Durban on Thursday.