Indonesia's Supardi, (second right), battles for the ball with Jamaica's (from left), Adrian Reid, Woolry Wolfe, Rudolph Austin and Christopher Harvey, (far right), during their friendly match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta yesterday. Indonesia won 2-1. - AP

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

JAMAICA'S REGGAE Boyz got off to a poor start to their four-match friendly tour of Asia yesterday, going down 2-1 to 143rd ranked Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Despite the absence of top local strikers Boaz Salossa and Saktiawan Sinaga, the Jamaican back line, which had to take the pitch just 24 hours after a 40-hour trip, had lots of problems coping with the hosts' strike force.

Veteran striker Bambang Pamungkas, a star for Indonesia at the 2002 Tiger Cup, proved to be more than a handful for the Jamaica defence, netting both goals.

Scoreless first half

After a scoreless first half, the 27-year-old striker put the hosts in front when he slotted past Jamaican custodian Richard McCallum, who made a few critical stops for the Jamaican team, in the 58th minute.

Portmore United's Wolry Wolfe got the visitors back on level terms with a goal in the 72nd minute, but Pamungkas popped up again to beat keeper McCallum on the stroke of full time.

Jamaica will now prepare for their second friendly international against Vietnam on Sunday. The Vietnamese have been in camp since Monday and are, like Indonesia, preparing to take part in the Asia Cup.

The loss was Jamaica's second to a team ranked outside of the FIFA top 100 in the past nine months. They also fell 2-1 to St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the preliminary rounds of the Gold Cup. In fact, the Jamaicans are yet to win any international friendly since new technical director Velibor Milutinovic took charge, and are now winless in their past five friendlies.

However, if there is any good news for the Reggae Boyz, it is that the completely local squad is expected to be bolstered by the return of Harbour View striker Fabian Taylor.

Taylor, who did manage to find the back of the net the last time the team was successful abroad - at the Lunar Cup in Hong Kong earlier this year, will return to the team, along with Seba United's Keniel Moodie.

The players were forced to return home after hearing that they would not be allowed into Malaysia with passports set to expire. The issue has been resolved and the players are expected to leave the island today to rejoin the tour.