PORTLAND, Oregon (CMC) — Debutants Belize were hammered 6-1 by the United States in their Group C opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at JELD-WEN Field Tuesday night.

A first half hat-trick by Chris Wondolowski helped shatter Belize’s enthusiasm as the United States took the group lead over Costa Rica, 3-0 winners over Cuba, via goal differential.

Wondolowski struck first in the 12th minute with a point blank goal, added his second goal in the 37th minute by firing home a diving header at the edge of the six-yard box from a Kyle Beckerman cross, and completed his hat-trick by heading in Michael Parkhurst’s cross in the 41st minute.

A minute earlier Belize pulled a goal back when an unmarked Ian Gaynair headed in Elroy Smith’s free kick from 10 metres.

Pressure in the Belizean defensive third resulted in a fourth goal in the 58th minute when second-half substitute Stuart Holden knocked in Landon Donovan’s laid-off header.

Donovan set up the fifth US goal as well, playing a set piece across the net where Michael Orozco headed in his second career goal in the 72nd minute.

Donovan clinically finished from the penalty spot four minutes later after Honduran referee Hector Rodriguez called a handball against Belize.

The United States will take on Cuba in the second game of the group stage at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday.

Belize will face Costa Rica in the other match in Sandy, Utah.

Earlier, Caribbean champions Cuba were beaten 3-0 by Costa Rica in their Group C opener.

Michael Barrantes’ brace in the second half lifted Costa Rica after the two teams battled to a goalless first half against a stingy Cuban defence.

However, Barrantes broke through the defence in the 52nd minute, taking an attempted clearance off his chest and firing a side volley into the net from 17 metres to put the Ticos in front.

Jairo Arrieta doubled Costa Rica’s lead in the 71st minute, by pouncing on his own saved point-blank shot from a cross.

Six minutes later, Barrantes added his second goal by tucking the ball to the right of goalkeeper Odelin Molina from 26 metres.

Barrantes nearly had a hat-trick, but his goal in the 67th minute was called back when Alvaro Saborio was ruled offside.

Four minutes from full time, Cuba’s Jose Ciprian Alfonso got behind Costa Rica’s defence, but his attempt was saved by Patrick Pemberton.