Ghana striker Prince Tagoe scored as his club Hoffenheim defeated Sunderland 3-1 in their pre-season fridendly on Sunday.
The Black Stars player ensured that Sunderland ended their pre-season in disappointing fashion after losing their final game against the impressive Hoffenheim in Germany.
The Black Cats struggled against the slick passing of their Bundesliga opponents and always looked vulnerable to conceding the the German side's defence marshalled by Ghanaian Isaac Vorsah.
Two first-half goals from Josip Simunic, and a second half strike from Prince Tagoe, was enough for the hosts to claim victory, with Jordan Henderson hitting a consolation for the visitors.
Hoffenheim opened the scoring after just seven minutes when Simunic planted a header past 'keeper Simon Mignolet, who headed for the Stadium of Light from Belgian side Sint-Truidense this summer.
The hosts, who finished eleventh in the Bundesliga last season, were controlling the opening exchanges and it was not a surprise when they doubled their advantage on 21 minutes, albeit in controversial fashion.
Carlos Eduardo's cross fell to Simunic who finished emphatically from eight yards out, although there was a strong suspicion of offside.
Henderson pulled a goal back on 65 minutes when he beautifully curled home a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner beyond Starke.
Yet any hope of a comeback was ended just a minute later when a cross-shot was converted by unmarked Ghana international Prince Tagoe from close-range.
Hoffenheim were content on keeping possession and frustrating Sunderland, who made several substitutions as the game began to fade out.
Bruce will be hoping for an improved performance in the club's first Premier League fixture against Birmingham City next Saturday.
Sunderland concluded their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bundesliga side Hoffenheim at the Rhein-Neckar Arena.