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Ching scores 2 in U.S. rout

Associated Press Brian Ching, left, scored two goals and Eddie Johnson one for the U.S. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Ken Peters Associated Press
Associated Press Brian Ching, left, scored two goals and Eddie Johnson one for the U.S. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

CARSON, Calif. – The United States couldn’t wait to get started in its qualifying run for the 2010 World Cup.

Former Gonzaga star Brian Ching scored two goals after Clint Dempsey scored 54 seconds into the match to set the tone in the United States’ 8-0 rout of Barbados on Sunday in the Americans’ first qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup.

Dempsey added a second-half goal for the Americans, who scored three times in the first half and five times in the second.

After going scoreless in exhibitions against three of the world’s top 10 teams leading into the qualifier, the United States had three goals in the first 20 minutes against Barbados.

Michael Bradley and Ching also had first-half goals, and Landon Donovan, Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and Ching added goals in the second. Barbados also had an own-goal in the 86th minute.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, never really challenged, got the shutout. Tim Howard, who probably would have started in goal, strained his back in practice on Friday and is listed as day-to-day.

The United States, which has made five consecutive World Cup appearances, will play the second and final game of the home-and-home series at Barbados on June 22. The winner is determined by total score of the two matches.

If the United States advances to the CONCACAF semifinals, it likely would play in August in a group that would include Cuba, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago. The final round of regional qualifying will be next year, with three teams from CONCACAF earning a berth in the World Cup, and the fourth-place team facing the No. 5 nation from South America for another spot.

The Americans are No. 21 in the FIFA rankings.