HEFEI, China — The Reggae Boyz were beaten 1-0 by China at the newly-built 60,000-capacity Hefei Olympic Sports Centre here this morning.Related story:

The winning goal was scored by Zhao Peng who rose above the Jamaican defence to head home from a corner early in the first half.

Prior to kick-off, head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore had anxiously awaited the arrival of additional players to boost his shortened squad. Late withdrawals from the squad had forced the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to find replacements and reorganise travel plans.

Scandinavia-based pros Rudolph Austin, Damion Williams, Dwayne Kerr and Luton Shelton landed in the country without incident as special arrangements were made for visas to be issued on entering Shanghai and Beijing.

United States-based captain Shavar Thomas, who missed his original flight out of Kansas on Monday, had arrived in Beijing, and overnighted before continuing on to Hefei by air.

Also arriving from the US, Omar Cummings joined the group last night and dined with them at their Hongrui Jinling Grand Hotel base here.

Jamaica’s starting XI — Dwayne Miller, Shavar Thomas, Adrian Reid, Xavian Virgo, Eric Vernan, Damion Williams, Omar Daley, Keneil Moodie, Rudolph Austin, Luton Shelton, Omar Cummings.

China (from) — Yang Zhi, Guan Zhen, Zhang Lie, Li Xuepeng, Wang Qiang, Rong Hao, Du Wei, Feng Xiaoting, Liu Jianye, Wu Xi, Zhang Xinxin, Zhao Xuri, Hao Junmin, Deng Zhuoxiang, Feng Renliang, Yu Hanchao, Huang Bowen, Yang Hao, Yu Hai, Zheng Zhi, Yang Xu, Qu Bo and Gao Lin.

Boyz go at China