Clint Dempsey leads Team USA's rout of Honduras in World Cup qualifier

SAN JOSE — Clint Dempsey struck a spectacular hat-trick on his return to national team duty to lead the United States to a resounding 6-0 demolition of Honduras at Avaya Stadium on Friday night.

Dempsey scored the third, fifth and sixth goals as the U.S. made an instant return to form under new head coach Bruce Arena and lifted itself off the foot of the CONCACAF qualifying table for next year’s World Cup.

Going into the game all talk was about whether the Americans would get drawn into a tricky scrap in its bid to claim one of the region’s three automatic qualifying spots for soccer’s biggest tournament.

After this performance, those fears were comprehensively laid aside. Even though this result only moved Arena’s team to fourth in the six-team table, it is just one point behind Panama, whom it visits in the next round of matches on Tuesday.

If the U.S. was to shake off any nerves at starting a new era under Arena and shaking off the memory of the timid and listless displays that marked the end of Jurgen Klinsmann’s reign, it needed a strong start on Friday.

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It got one. Sebastian Lletget got the opener in only the fifth minute, bundling the ball into an open net after teenage sensation Christian Pulisic has his effort blocked by Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober.

Captain Michael Bradley added the second on 27 minutes when he was allowed too much room to roam and unleashed a fierce left-foot drive into the corner of Escober’s net.

Dempsey added another five minutes later, combining with Pulisic to collect a lofted pass, shrugging off defensive, and finishing confidently.

The game effectively wrapped up, the U.S. began to freewheel. Three more goals went in before the second half was even 10 minutes old. Pulisic took a pass from Jozy Altidore and slotted the ball home, then made another chance for Dempsey that was effortlessly converted. Dempsey’s party piece came for the sixth, a wonderfully crafted, angled free-kick that blasted into the top corner.

The San Jose crowd was buoyant, the U.S. was full of energy and confidence, and it made you wonder what all the previous fuss had been about.

There are still seven games to go in qualifying but after this the U.S. will feel it has the right form, the right coach and the right mindset to avoid any more stumbles.