Italy thrashed Honduras 3-0 in front of 21,000 cheering spectators in their Olympic football group match on Thursday.

Italy dominated the whole match but couldn't convert their advantage to outcome until the 41st minute, when Juventus' striker Sebastian Giovinco fired the ball from the left corner of the box into the net.

The Italians extended the lead to 2-0 four minutes later after Honduras defender Quiarol Arzu handed the ball in the box. Giuseppe Rossi sent the ball to the right corner.

Seven minutes after the second half, Italian Robert Acquafresca outraced the defense line and faced the goalkeeper Kevin one-on-one, but Kevin came out to challenge and trapped him down. The referee awarded a penalty and Robert himself sent the ball to the left corner.

"Of course I am very happy," Italian head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi said in a press conference after the match. "I hope the rest of the games could be going on like this."

Giovinco, a 21-year-old from Series A Juventus, was the spectators' favorite in the match. "It is the best way to open the competition," he said, referring to his powerful shot that opened the scoring. "I would like to emphasis on the team. It is an excellent team."

Honduras had a good chance to close the distance when Emil Martinez was challenged down in the box and awarded a penalty in the 84th minute. However, Carlos Pavon kicked the ball way too high.

Honduras made a few challenges in the second half, and Samuel Caballer's long-range shot forced the Italian goalkeeper make his best save today.

"If you lose concentration and controlling of the ball, you lose the game," Honduras head coach Gilberto Yearwood said. "We lost our concentration and gave up when they scored the penalty. Unfortunately, they took the advantage."

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2008)