Even if it was largely expected of them, the U.S. soared in their opener at the U17 CONCACAF Championship in steamy Panama.

Faced with a group opener against a Jamaica side they’d beaten handily twice this cycle, the U.S. overcame a sluggish, scoreless first half to carve open the Jamaicans 5-0 in Panama City on Sunday. Toronto FC wide man Ayo Akinola registered an assist and scored twice in the rout, both in the final five minutes, while Chris Durkin, Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah added the other three. It was a nice way to kick off the group phase, which ratchets up to a second gear in the next match. The U.S. squares off against Mexico on Wednesday in an occasion that’ll likely decide the group winner and the easier path through the second qualification phase.

For the U.S., that path wouldn't even be open without exorcising a bit of a demon from 2015. In the last World Cup qualification cycle, the U.S. couldn't beat Jamaica in regulation in two tries, losing once in the group stage and drawing 0-0 in a playoff. The U.S. won the latter in penalties to earn its place in the World Cup, but it was a near thing.

There were no such theatrics on Sunday.

The U.S. dominated proceedings throughout, logging possession numbers over 60 percent and outshooting Jamaica handily. But the U.S. attack had the yips in the first 45 minutes, and despite a cavalcade of chances they were unable to provide the opening salvo. Jamaica goalkeeper Tajay Griffiths had largely been the game’s MVP, sprawling to keep the U.S. out of the net and even saving an Andrew Carleton penalty inside the opening 15 minutes.

But the overwhelming flood was coming for his net. And by the end, he’d let five past him.

Durkin provided the breakthrough, and ultimately the only goal the U.S. needed, less than 10 minutes into the second half. On the ninth U.S. corner kick of the match, the D.C. United No. 6 rose above two Jamaican defenders and beat the on-rushing Griffiths to nod one home inside the far post. That settled the game visibly for the Americans, who grew into the game and ultimately poured on a shocking onslaught in the final 15 minutes.

With about 20 minutes to go, Paris Saint Germain academy star Weah entered for Carleton, who endured a disappointing day on the whole, and ghosted into the box in the 77th to finish an adroit cross from Akinola. The U.S. added a third when Sargent profited from a wasteful defensive touch from Kendall Edwards, and Akinola put in his first two minutes later by rolling a stoppable shot inside the near post past an inert Griffiths.

Akinola’s piece de resistence was the goal of the afternoon. When a bouncing ball fell to his feet about 20 yards out, Akinola took a chopping cut and powered it into the side netting past a powerless Griffiths. It was the final act of the day, and it was a fitting crown.

The U.S. endured some expected jitters early, and the weather was no friend. The game was stopped in both halves for cool-down breaks to cut the brutal tropical heat, and the Jamaicans in particular seemed to slow down when the match hit the 70th minute. The encouraging piece for the U.S. was that it was able to find its scoring stride, largely through its work on the flanks. Once Weah came on, the U.S. was killer from wide with both Weah and Akinola providing the majority of the danger.

The problem, though, could be the central channel against a far more dangerous Mexican side. The central trio in the 4-3-3 of Durkin, Blaine Ferri and George Acosta struggled to find space and interact in and around the ever critical Zone 14 as Jamaica dropped two defensive midfielders into the low block to push things wide. From that aspect, it was understandable that the U.S. got most of its danger from wide positions, but it was also somewhat disconcerting that it was unable to break them down centrally. Against Mexico, they might not have another option.

Two items of interest to watch for the rest of the group is whether Weah gets the nod over Carleton after scoring and whether U.S. coach John Hackworth attempts to shake up the central trio in an effort to get more out of it. Acosta came off late for Atlanta United Homegrown Chris Goslin, although it might’ve been for injury reasons, and it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see Goslin subbed on for one of Ferri or Acosta against Mexico.

This was the start to World Cup qualifying the U.S. wanted. Even still, the second match will tell us far more about how far this team has come than the first.