Italy's Christian Vieri (left) scores in front of Ecuador's Ivan Hurtado as goalie Jose Cevallos (right) reaches for the ball during their Group G match at the World Cup finals in Sapporo yesterday. Italy won 2-0. - Reuters

MUSCULAR Italian striker Christian Vieri bullied his way into Ecuador's penalty area, scoring two first-half goals to give three-time champion Italy an impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador yesterday in the opening World Cup match for both teams.

Italy looked solid all around, but the attacking duo of the stubble-cheeked Vieri and playmaker Francesco Totti really shined. Vieri powered his way through Ecuador's penalty area again and again, shouldering defenders aside, while Totti tapped him glorious balls.

"To score two goals in the first half of the first game -- you feel good," Vieri said, with a satisfied smile. "Playing together with Totti worked well.

"We have to be content," he said.

Vieri, picking up his goal-scoring form where he left off in the last World Cup, used his powerful left foot to redirect a cross from Totti into the back of the net in the seventh minute.

Twenty minutes later, Vieri took control of a long pass and again beat Ecuador goalkeeper Jose Cevallos. This time, the Inter Milan striker's initial shot was partially blocked by Cevallos, but the ball kept moving toward the goal and Vieri calmly jogged toward it, tapping it in.

At France '98, Vieri also led Italy's attack, scoring five goals in five matches.

"All the team was in form," Totti said. "We produced some beautiful play. We could have scored more goals, but the Ecuador keeper made some good saves."

Ecuador, playing thier first World Cup match yesterday, had trouble penetrating Italy's experienced backline throughout the match, and the much-touted Southampton forward Agustin Delgado failed to make an impression.

Ecuador coach Hernan Dario Gomez was disappointed, but not surprised.

"We lost against one of the tournament favourites, so we're not discouraged," Gomez said.

"It's tough playing your first World Cup match ever against a team like Italy."