SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (CMC):

Honduras gave themselves a flying start to the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-0 victory over Caribbean side Puerto Rico on Wednesday night.

In sloppy conditions at Estadio Olimpico, the home side led 1-0 at half-time and ran out predictably comfortable winners after a double strike from their top striker, David Suazo.

After a day of torrential rain in San Pedro Sula, the home side shot ahead midway the first when Julio Cesar de Leon smashed in a shot from 25 metres.

The goal came in the 25th minute and there were no more goals before half-time, as the Puerto Ricans gave a plucky performance in foreign territory.

Stretched the lead

Wilson Palacios, who plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League, made it 2-0 in the 50th minute and Suazo scored a minute later to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Puerto Rico's Marco Velez was sent off with seven minutes to go and Suazo completed the rout in stoppage time for the world's 37th-ranked Honduras.

Honduras, without a FIFA World Cup Finals appearance since 1982, will now take a sturdy lead to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the second leg on June 14 where the Caribbean side, ranked 149th in the world, will have to win by five clear goals to advance to the next stage of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.