BUENOS AIRES, March 28 (Reuters) - Argentina, inspired by Lionel Messi, gave Diego Maradona what he described as a perfect home and competitive debut as coach by beating Venezuela 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Messi scored the first goal and then set up the second for

Carlos Tevez before Maximiliano Rodriguez and Sergio Aguero

completed an easy win for the hosts.

Maradona, who began his reign with friendly wins away to

Scotland and France, was given a rousing reception by the crowd

when he came onto the field before the game at the Monumental

stadium.

"This was better than I expected, reality has overcome

fiction," said Maradona, who since retiring as a player has

been treated for drug addiction, obesity and alcohol-induced

liver disease, at one stage spending 10 days in intensive care.

"I couldn't have imagined what happened today. It was

perfect. It's not easy to score four goals against Venezuela,

we had to work hard for it."

The win left Argentina with 19 points from 11 games in the

South American group, four behind leaders Paraguay. Venezuela

have 10.

"They beat us categorically," said Venezuela coach Cesar

Farias. "It's difficult to defend a result like this."

Argentina depended heavily on Messi for inspiration and the

Barcelona player created their first real chance in the 25th

minute when he jinked his way to the byline but nobody could

connect with his cross.

The hosts went ahead one minute later when Javier Zanetti

burst out of defence, ran 60 metres and found Tevez who laid

the ball off to Messi in his favourite position around 30

metres from goal.

Messi cut inside, played a one-two with Tevez and scored

with a low shot into the far corner for his fourth goal of the

qualifiers.

He then created another chance by threading the ball

through to Aguero, who rounded goalkeeper Renny Vega only to

see his shot cleared off the line by Gabriel Cichero

Argentina goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo had to wait until

the end of the first half for some action when he comfortably

stopped Juan Arango's long-range shot.

Two quickfire goals early in the second half ended

Venezuela's resistance as they slumped to their 16th defeat in

as many games against Argentina.

Tevez volleyed in Messi's cross at the far post in the 47th

minute for his first goal of the qualifiers, in which he has

been sent off twice, and Rodriguez scored with a weak shot

which wrong-footed Vega five minutes later.

Aguero completed the scoring in the 73rd minute.