SEOUL, South Korea — That the two teams were poles apart on the night is not in question.

Neither is the fact that Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz gift-wrapped the three goals to their South Korean opponents in their 0-3 loss inside the Seoul World Cup Stadium in their friendly international here yesterday.

However, Head Coach Winfried Schaefer isn’t angry with the capitulation of his players, because he has come to the realisation that the quality of this particular squad, missing a number of regular and influential players, was just not good enough to beat one of the best teams in Asia.

“I’m not angry against this team,” Schaefer told the Jamaica Observer at game’s end.

“Many players played outside their natural positions, like Barnes (Giles), who played a very good game. We played with a new midfield and a defence with Upston (Edwards), Cummings (Shaun), and Harriott (Rosario) playing together, as well as with Errol Stevens in midfield,” he added.

The hosts, who were winning their second game against Jamaica in three friendly meetings since 1998, took the lead through Ji Dongwon in the 35th minute when he rose highest to nod home a left-sided corner kick, which was conceded by debutant Harriott, who turned the ball behind in a hurried clearance when he had time to punt the ball upfield or seek help from his goalkeeper who was ready and waiting.

On the resumption, Shaun Cummings was adjudged to have bundled over his attacker inside the penalty box, and Japanese referee Sato Ryuji did not hesitate to award the free kick which was dispatched with aplomb by Captain Ki Sungyueng of Swansea City in the English Premier League on 57 minutes.

The South Koreans wrapped up the game in the 63rd minute in a most bizarre fashion.

Jamaica won a free kick near the left touchline midway their half and Lance Laing drove an under-hit attempted cross-field pass intended for his right flank midfielder, but it was intercepted by striker Hwang Uijo, who raced forward before forcing goalkeeper Andre Blake to parry the ball at the feet of Lee Jaesung, who cleared his way before sliding the ball home for the ultimate punishment.

“Maybe it was 70 per cent bad things we did and 30 per cent good things, because all three goals were made from mistakes from us and we had chances for goal, too,” opined Schaefer, who was forced to employ a makeshift team due to a series of late withdrawals for various reasons.

“Also, many of our players were playing for the first time against a team of this high level and high tempo and we made mistakes, so it was clear that these players together in this team couldn’t beat South Korea, one of the best teams in Asia.”

But out of every bad situation comes some amount of good, and the German coach spoke to that: “For me I saw new players, I saw players showing the level they are at now, and not just the local players. I now know which players are ready for the immediate future, like for Panama, Haiti and Costa Rica.”

It took all of 10 minutes for either goalkeeper to be called into action when Deshorn Brown drove an angled shot straight into the grateful arms of Jung Sungyoung.

Shortly afterwards, the hosts went very close when Hwang Uijo slipped in behind the defence from the right side of the penalty area, but dragged his right-footer inches wide of Blake’s right hand post.

South Korea, with their slick off the ball movement and neat passing, soon opened up the Jamaican defence yet again, but Captain Adrian Mariappa was in the right place at the right time to block his opposite number Ki Sungyueng’s right-footed volley from inside the penalty box.

And, as the pressure piled on, Ji Dongwon cut inside from the left side and drove a low effort goalwards, but Blake was equal to the task.

The Reggae Boyz countered with Laing whipping in a vicious, deep swerving left-sided cross, but no yellow-shirted player was able to get on the end of it, much to the relief of Jung Sungryong.

Joel Grant, who had arrived in South Korea only hours earlier in the day, was introduced in favour of Brown on the resumption, and he, along with Simon Dawkins started scheming in the middle of the park to spark some life in the Jamaican attacks. But no sooner had the Reggae Boyz started getting to terms with South Korea, Cummings committed the foul on a breakaway inside the box for Ki Sungyueng to put the game further out of Jamaica’s reach.

Mattocks went agonisingly close to pulling one back for Jamaica, but his reflex header from point blank range, from Dawkins’ inspirational play down the left channel, angled just wide of the left upright with Jung Sungryong rooted in the middle of his goal.

“All players must learn from this match. Now some players know that their fitness is not good enough for this level, their technique is not good enough now, the anticipation is too slow.

“I told my players what was good and what was bad and what they need to do to improve in their clubs. I saw maybe two or three players with the potential, but they have to improve more and have more confidence,” said Schaefer.