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

Clint Dempsey scored 53 seconds in to set the tone, Brian Ching added two goals and the United States cruised to a record-setting 8-0 rout of Barbados today in the Americans' first qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup.

Ching is a Kamehameha Schools alum from Hale'iwa.

Dempsey added a second-half goal for the Americans, who scored three times in the first half and five times in the second. It was the largest victory margin in the team's history and only the second time the United States scored eight goals. The other was an 8-1 victory over the Cayman Islands in 1993.

After going scoreless in exhibitions against three of the world's top 10 teams leading into the qualifier, the 21st-ranked United States had three goals in the first 20 minutes against Barbados, tied for 121st in the FIFA world rankings.

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. No. 1 goalkeeper Tim Howard strained his back in practice on Friday and is lday-to-day.

The United States, seeking its sixth straight World Cup appearance, will play the second game of the home-and-home, total-goals series at Barbados on June 22. The winner advances to a semifinal group that likely will include Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In three matches against Barbados — the other two were qualifiers in 2000 — the United States has outscored the Caribbean island nation of some 282,000 by 19-0.

In the opening minute, Carlos Bocanegra lofted a 20-yard pass that sailed just over a defender's head as Dempsey charged into the box. Dempsey controlled the ball, then slid and rolled it past goalkeeper Alvin Rouse as he desperately tried to block the shot.

It was the fastest goal for the U.S. in a qualifier since Ante Razov scored 74 seconds in against T&T in 2001.

Bradley, son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, made it 2-0 in the 12th minute when he banged in a rebound. Steve Cherundolo made a centering pass from the right wing, the ball bounced off a defender and Ching tried to kick it in. Rouse blocked it, only to have Bradley slam the ball into the net.

With Barbados' defense in disarray and the United States constantly on the attack, the Americans extended their lead in the 20th minute on Ching's goal, coming when he deflected Pablo Mastroeni's hard drive from 20 yards.

Donovan made it 4-0 on a free kick from 30 yards, putting the ball just inside the left post. Four minutes later, Dempsey scored on a rebound from 12 yards, and Johnson got one in the 82nd minute.

The Americans were coming off a 2-0 loss at No. 9 England, a 1-0 loss at No. 4 Spain and a 0-0 tie against top-ranked Argentina in exhibition matches. They Americans had a first-round bye in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. Barbados beat Dominica 2-1 in their series.

The U.S. team has changed since it was knocked out of the opening round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany by a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic, a 1-1 tie with Italy and a 2-1 loss to Ghana. Bradley eventually replaced Bruce Arena as coach of the national team.

Notes:@ The Americans also had 7-0 wins against El Salvador in 1993 and Barbados in a 2000 qualifier.