Honduras vs. Canada: Jerry Bengtson, Carlo Costly each net hat tricks in 8-1 romp

In what was billed as one of the biggest matches in recent Canadian soccer history, the Maple Leafs couldn't have looked much worse. Honduras jumped out to a 4-0 halftime lead and then continued the pummeling to the tune of an 8-1 victory to book their ticket into the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Honduras got a pair of hat tricks from Jerry Bengtson and Carlo Costly and two more goals from Mario Martinez in as Los Catrachos doubled their goal output from their five previous World Cup qualifiers. The win puts them atop Group C, beating Panama on goal-difference.

The carnage started early. Bengtson got behind the Canadian defense in the 7th minute and putting it past Lars Herschfeld for the early 1-0 lead. Bengtson made it 2-0 about 10 minutes later when he was able to knock in a rebound from a Martinez shot. He finished up his hat trick with a strike in the 82nd minute.

Costly essentially ended the Canadians' hopes when he put Honduras up 3-0 in the 28th minute, finishing off a ball that was set up by Bengtson. Costly added goals in the 48th and 88th minute, although one of them was initially ruled an own-goal.

Martinez basically had his way with Canadian center back Andre Hainault all day, but finally had something to show for it in the 32nd minute. Martinez, who added a goal on a beautiful left-footed strike in the 59th minute, nut-megged Hainault on his first goal.

Canada was able to escape the shutout when Iain Hume scored in the 76th minute to temporarily cut the deficit to 6-1.