A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
世界杯:贾斯特梅开二度,伊朗两度落后两度扳平,二比二战平新西兰
World Cup: Just's Brace, Iran Twice Behind and Twice Level — Iran 2-2 New Zealand
About this story
An easy Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup: Just scores twice for New Zealand, but Iran fight back twice through Rezaeian and Mohebi for a 2-2 draw. HSK 2 vocabulary on leading, equalizing, and a four-goal thriller.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 4 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 威胁、事情、开始 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.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Today we're talking about a very entertaining World Cup match.
It's Iran versus New Zealand.
The final score was two to two.
The two teams scored four goals in all — very lively.
The biggest draw of this game was the back-and-forth.
New Zealand led twice, Iran equalized twice.
You score one, I score one, all the way to the end.
First, a word about the two teams.
Iran is a strong Asian side, has been to many World Cups, with plenty of experience.
New Zealand comes from Oceania, doesn't get many World Cup chances, so they cherish it especially.
Before the match, many felt Iran had the better chance to win.
But on the soccer pitch, things often don't go the way people expect.
In this game, New Zealand played with real drive and weren't afraid at all.
When the match began, New Zealand gave everyone a surprise.
Only about seven minutes in, New Zealand scored.
The scorer is named Just.
He's very fast, seized a chance, and struck the ball into the net.
One to zero, New Zealand ahead.
Conceding so early, Iran were a bit caught off guard.
But Iran quickly came to their senses.
They started pushing forward, wanting to pull the score back.
At around thirty minutes, Iran's Rezaeian scored.
One to one, the two teams back on the same line.
The first half ended at one to one.
The second half was even better.
New Zealand's Just scored again.
This was his second goal today — we call it a brace.
Two to one, New Zealand ahead once more.
Scoring two goals by himself, Just was truly outstanding today.
But Iran still wouldn't give up.
Not long after, Iran's Mohebi scored as well.
Two to two!
Iran equalized a second time.
Twice behind, twice level — Iran's tenacity was admirable.
In the time after, both teams wanted one more to take the game.
But attack as they might, neither could score again.
The whistle finally blew, the score fixed at two to two.
Each team took one point.
How to view this game?
For Iran, equalizing twice from behind shows they're mentally steady and not easily broken.
For New Zealand, failing to hold either lead is something of a pity.
Still, with a scorer like Just, their attack carries real threat.
For both teams, this point isn't bad at all.
In a game against a strong opponent, taking a point keeps their hopes of advancing alive.
And for the fans, this is the most thrilling kind of game — lots of goals, and end to end.
Four goals, two times taking the lead, two equalizers — a game like this is worth it any way you look.
This game also made everyone remember two names.
One is New Zealand's Just, who scored two by himself — the brightest star today.
One is Iran's Mohebi, whose goal rescued the team a second time.
And Iran's Rezaeian, who scored the first equalizer too.
A game like this is also great for friends learning Chinese.
In one match there's leading, equalizing, and going ahead again — perfect for hearing these expressions a few more times.
That's the story of Iran two to two New Zealand.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。让对方害怕、有危险。他们的进攻是有威胁的。
HSK 1-2. matter/thing.
HSK 1-2. to start / to begin.
HSK 1-2. to hope.
比分比对手高。新西兰两次领先。
落后的队再进球,把比分变成一样。伊朗两次追平。
一个人在一场球里进两个球。贾斯特今天梅开二度。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法不按…来
'Doesn't go according to…' — something doesn't follow the expected pattern.
事情常常不按大家想的来。
没过多久
'Before long / not long after' — a short time later.
没过多久,伊朗的莫赫比也进了一个球。
对…来说
'As for… / for…' — frames whom a statement applies to.
对两个队来说,这一分都不算差。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Free account
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