Rockets win 6-1 on agg.

The Dallas Rockets completed their demolition job of Hamilton International in the CONCACAF American Airlines Cup, winning 2-1 on the strength of a workmanlike performance at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Entering the second-leg match with a comfortable four-goal cushion the visitors were not content to sit on their lead and attacked from the opening whistle.

Nevertheless, it was Hamilton who got the first crack at goal as Walter Musson was sent racing down the left flank by Derek Bell and fired a screamer just over the crossbar in the fourth minute of play.

Responding five minutes later was Rockets' Gary Young who had surged forward from his centre-half position. But his powerful blast from all of 25 yards sailed over the top, much to the delight of Gladwin Edness in the Hamilton goal.

Hamilton were able to match their opponents step for step for much of the first half but once the early adrenalin wore off it came apparent that they were not really up to the task.

"They're not fit,'' player/coach Derek Bell said of his team-mates after the game. "They played and tackled hard for the first 30 minutes but you could tell in the last 15 of the first half that these guys were getting tired.'' Dallas readily took advantage of this ineptness, surging forward in waves with new signing Eddie Radwanski being given full range overlapping from his right-back position. His dangerous crosses were the source of much consternation for the Hamilton defence with Paul Towlson called on to head clear on a number of occasions.

However, the big man could do nothing to prevent Dallas taking the lead in the 39th minute when another forward push by Radwanski saw him catch the defence backpedalling and he made them pay dearly, planting the ball in the left-hand corner with Edness stunned.

Hamilton tried to come back before the half ended, Towlson and Musson both going wide with efforts.

The second half turned into a mirror image of the first with Dallas outhustling Hamilton, beating them to every loose ball. And Hamilton continued to compound their problems through a lack of ball control and imagination.

Midfielder Eloy Salgado struck paydirt four minutes following the restart after combining well with Willie Molano who crossed the ball from the left for Salgado to place a glancing header past an exposed Edness.

Obviously spent, Hamilton brought on forward Marlon Lindsay in the 66th minute in an attempt to inject some life into their sagging attack and he did produce a few forceful runs up front but nothing to cause the Americans any real bother.

Towlson finally broke the local side's scoring drought eight minutes from time rising above the defence to head home a Musson corner.

Dallas play Tauro FC of Panama in the next round.

Hamilton International: G.Edness, N.Topping, D.Lewis, D.Scott (M.Lindsay, 66 mins), P.Towlson, S.Morton, C.Sabir, D.Bell, V.Chaves (T.Bassett, 71 mins), W.Musson, E.Simmons.

Dallas Rockets: L.Venable, T.Woolley, P.Krejs, G.Young, E.Radwanski, M.Francis, D.Castro, W.Molano, E.Salgado, D.Hudgell (S.Hiller, 70 mins), K.Latham.

Men of the match: Paul Towlson (Hamilton International); Eddie Radwanski (Dallas).

Referee: Manuel Sosa (Dominican Republic).

Linesmen: Rex Osborne (Bermuda), Esten Curtis (Bermuda).