Dempsey hat-trick highlights USMNT's thorough demolition of Honduras

Clint Dempsey scored a hat-trick, with Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, and Sebastian Lletget also finding the back of the net, as the United States picked up all three points against Honduras in a 6-0 World Cup qualifying win Friday.

Lletget, Bradley, and Dempsey each scored in the first half, with Pulisic adding a fourth just 15 seconds into the second half at Avaya Stadium.

Dempsey then added a pair, including a hat-trick-completing third in the 54th minute, which brings him within two goals of Landon Donovan as the top scorer in U.S. history.

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Lletget got the scoring started within five minutes of kickoff with a tap-in effort, but saw his night ended early when he picked up an injury and was replaced by Alejandro Bedoya.

Bradley added a second with a long drive, before Dempsey notched his first goal since making his return to the U.S. national team, having been sidelined with a heart issue. His last appearance came in July of 2016.

New manager Bruce Arena oversaw a comprehensive victory in his first competitive fixture in his second tenure at the U.S. helm, but was dealt another blow when John Brooks picked up a second-half injury and had to be stretchered off the field.

But with the main objective achieved, the U.S. now moves into fourth in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings, having alleviated many of its supporters' fears.