Frank Lampard ensured England made a smooth start on the road to Brazil as the Chelsea midfielder bagged a brace in his side's 5-0 demolition of Moldova in Friday's opening World Cup qualifier.

After England's tame Euro 2012 quarter-final exit against Italy, it was essential for Roy Hodgson's side to deliver a convincing display in Chisinau and Lampard's 24th and 25th international goals were the catalyst for a ruthless rout of the Group H minnows.

Lampard gave England the perfect start when he converted a penalty and he was on the scoresheet again before half-time, while Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe also netted in the first period and James Milner and Leighton Baines added late goals to kill off the out-classed Moldovans.

With Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll sidelined by injuries, Defoe, for so long a bit-part player for England, was able to underline his credentials with his second goal in his last two internationals after Hodgson opted to select him ahead of Danny Welbeck.

And a mature display from young Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley provided further encouragement for Hodgson as he looks to rebuild after Euro 2012.

"I was pleased with the way we played, especially in the first half," Hodgson said.

"We attacked and defended well and we were quick to get the ball back.

"At 3-0 at half-time it was pleasing. There was always the risk it would get too easy but we played some good football and scored two more goals."

Moldova are 141st in FIFA's world rankings for a reason and England ended the contest with two goals in quick succession before the interval.

In the 29th minute, Lampard, untracked by Moldova's statuesque defenders, made a typically lung-bursting run to meet Glen Johnson's chipped pass with a bullet header past Namasco.

Then three minutes later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped a pass through to Defoe and the striker hit a first-time effort that should have been stopped by Namasco but eluded the keeper at his near-post.

England were content to go through the motions for long periods of the second half, but they pieced together another incisive move to add a fourth goal in the 74th minute.

Cleverley and substitutes Welbeck and Theo Walcott combined to set up Milner and he fired home from the edge of the area to claim his first ever England goal.

There was still time for Everton left-back Baines to get his first goal for England as well when his 83rd minute free-kick looped in off Alexandru Gatcan.