The LionsXII team lost 1-3 to Malaysian Super League (MSL) rivals Terengganu in a pre-season friendly on Friday night at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium in Kuala Terengganu.

The hosts' Brazilian-born striker Paulo Rangel, last MSL season's top scorer with 16 goals for Selangor, bagged a first-half hat-trick against Fandi Ahmad's team, which started with the twin attacking threats of Khairul Amri and new signing Sahil Suhaimi.

LionsXII captain Isa Halim pulled a goal for his team at 0-2 down, but Rangel restored his side's two-goal cushion just two minutes later.

Next up for Fandi and his charges is a trip to Maldives for the Jan 21-29 President of Maldives Invitational Cup, which will feature Maldives sides New Radiant FC and Maziya, as well as Malaysia's PDRM.