A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
3:16
梅西两助攻，阿根廷最后五分钟逆转英格兰闯入决赛
Two Messi Assists: Argentina's Last-Five-Minutes Comeback Beats England to Reach the Final
A medium Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta: England 1-2 Argentina. Gordon's counter-attack goal, Enzo's late strike past Pickford, and Messi's assist for Lautaro complete a stunning comeback.
This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 3 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 7 key vocabulary words such as 逆转、卫冕冠军、转折 and walks through 3 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
Today let's talk about a semi-final decided only at the very last moment: away from home, Argentina came from behind to beat England two to one and nervously booked their place in the final.
The plot of this game was more gripping than any movie.
First, the storylines going in.
England are one of the title favorites at this World Cup, with a settled squad, a tough style, and high morale.
Their opponents Argentina are the defending champions from the last World Cup, with the legendary talisman Messi still in the side.
For many, this may well be Messi's last World Cup, giving it extra weight.
Alright, let's return to this night in Atlanta.
In the first half both teams played very tensely, full of edge, and the score stayed at zero to zero.
The real turning point came in the second half.
In the fifty-fifth minute, England launched a lovely fast counter-attack.
Rogers delivered the cross, and Gordon got ahead of the defender to poke the ball into the goal.
One to zero, England took the lead first, as if one foot was already in the final.
For nearly the next half hour, the whole England team defended desperately, trying to hold on to that scoreline.
As time ran shorter and shorter, Argentina's hopes grew ever more faint.
But defending champions are defending champions precisely because of this never-give-up grit.
In the eighty-fifth minute, the miracle began.
Enzo, who had been trying long-range shots all through the second half, finally seized his chance and, with a powerful strike from distance, blasted the ball past England goalkeeper Pickford.
One to one, Argentina leveled the score at the last moment, and the fans in the stands instantly went wild.
And this was only the start of the comeback.
Just four minutes later, in the ninety-second minute, it was Messi again.
He delivered an incredible pass to find the onrushing Lautaro, who struck the decisive blow.
One to two, Argentina completed a stunning comeback and grabbed the win firmly in their own hands.
It's worth noting that both of Argentina's fateful goals were assisted by Messi alone.
At the most crucial moments, it was he who tore open England's defense and carried the team into the final.
For Argentina, this is a great win belonging to champions, and to Messi.
They proved that as long as the game isn't over, defending champions always have it in them to turn a loss into a win.
Next, they will meet Spain, who just knocked out France, in the final.
For England, this defeat is without doubt very cruel.
They led for a full half hour and were one step from the final they had dreamed of for years, yet conceded two goals in the last five minutes.
Next, they will play France for third place.
That's England one to two Argentina, a semi-final made classic by the comeback.
See you next match.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
考纲词。事情发生变化的地方。比赛的转折在下半场。
考纲词。心里很紧、不放松。两队踢得非常紧张。
考纲词。最重要的地方。在最关键的时刻，梅西传出好球。
考纲词。让人很难接受。这场失利非常残酷。
落后的时候反过来赢了。阿根廷完成了逆转。
上一届的冠军，这次还想再拿一次。阿根廷是卫冕冠军。
守球门的球员。皮克福德是英格兰门将。
* beyond level超纲词
之所以…，靠的就是…
'The reason … is precisely because of …' — explaining a cause.
卫冕冠军之所以是卫冕冠军，靠的就是这份永不放弃的韧劲。
仅仅…后，还是…
'Just … later, it was still …' — a quick, striking follow-up.
仅仅四分钟后，还是那个梅西。
值得一提的是…
'It's worth mentioning that …' — flagging a notable detail.
值得一提的是，这两个进球助攻都来自梅西一人。
Free account
Create a free account to keep saved words and your preferred level together.