The United States kicked off their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in style with a 6-1 rout of Belize as Chris Wondolowski made merry with a hat-trick.
Landon Donovan made a mark as well with a goal and a couple of assists as the Americans eased past their opponents at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore.
Wondolowski scored the first three goals for the United States, with Stuart Holden, Michael Orozco and Donovan also getting in on the act. Ian Gaynair netted what proved to be the consolation goal for Belize in the 40th minute, making the score at that point 2-1.
The first goal came via a cross from Jose Torres down the left, with Wondolowski grabbing onto a rebound off a tame header from Joe Corona to ease it into the back of the net from close range in the 12th minute.
Wondolowski put his head to good use in the 37th minute, finding the target off another cross, this time from Kyle Beckerman.
Belize brought the score down to 2-1 with Gaynair latching onto a freekick from Elroy Smith, but that was as close as they would come.
The U.S. restored their two-goal lead with Wondolowski again heading home, after some good work from Michael Parkhurst, to complete his hat-trick.
Holden, who came on for Beckerman, then scored his first international goal in four years in the 58th minute, with the Bolton midfielder taking a pass from Donovan before calmly slotting past Shane Orio.
Orozco then made it 5-1 with a header courtesy a cross from Donovan, before the American legend himself bulged the scoreline to 6-1 via a penalty after referee Hector Rodriguez pointed to the spot for a handball inside the box.
In an earlier game, two goals from Michael Barrantes helped Costa Rica to a comfortable 3-0 win over Cuba.
All three goals came in the second half, with Barrantes scoring in the 51st and 77th minute, while Jairo Obando Arrieta netted in the 71st for Costa Rica.
