A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
5:54
世界杯：先丢一球靠角球连扳两球，阿尔及利亚二比一逆转约旦
Set-Piece Comeback: Algeria Turn It Around to Beat Jordan 2–1
中级中文听力：回顾世界杯阿尔及利亚二比一逆转约旦。约旦先拔头筹顽强死守，阿尔及利亚下半场凭借本布瓦利、古伊里两记角球连扳两球，冷静完成逆转。含生词、语法与全文翻译。
This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 6 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 戏剧性、被动、耐心 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.
Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1, a dramatic and quite telling match.
It was dramatic because Algeria trailed for a time, yet in the end, through tenacity and composure, completed a fine comeback.
Let's first get to know the two teams.
Algeria comes from Africa and is a quite capable team.
Physically strong with good technique, they've long been one of the more competitive sides in African soccer.
Their opponent Jordan, meanwhile, comes from Asia, and in both fame and overall strength, has a sizable gap from Algeria.
However, Jordan's players are tenacious in style and never give up easily — not an easy team to deal with.
Precisely because of the gap in strength, before the match almost everyone thought Algeria would win smoothly.
However, as the match began, an unexpected scene unfolded on the pitch.
The first to score, surprisingly, was not the favored Algeria, but Jordan.
Their player Al-Rashdan seized a chance and scored, and Jordan unexpectedly took a one-to-zero lead.
This opening stunned everyone and threw Algeria into a passive position at once.
They were the acknowledged favorites for this match, yet here they were conceding and falling behind early, suddenly under no small pressure.
For Jordan, this goal was a shot in the arm; they played with more confidence and dared to spar more with the strong side.
After falling behind, Algeria immediately stepped up their attack, trying to equalise as soon as possible.
They controlled the ball, attacking Jordan's goal again and again — crosses, shots, corners — using nearly every attacking method.
However, Jordan's defending was quite tenacious, and throughout the first half, Algeria couldn't break their goal.
At the end of the first half, the score was still Jordan one to zero, and Algeria's fans were a little anxious.
But what truly tests a team is precisely the moment when it's behind.
Some teams throw themselves into disarray once behind, but Algeria played more and more calmly, more and more patiently.
Into the second half, their efforts finally paid off.
Their player Benbouali seized a corner-kick chance and scored, leveling the score at one to one.
A so-called corner kick is the ball taken by the attacking side at the corner of the field after the ball is knocked out over the goal line by the defenders — often a good chance to create a goal.
This goal let Algeria, who had been chasing hard, finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The fans in the stands rose again, cheering their team on.
After leveling the score, Algeria played with more confidence, and their attack grew more threatening.
Before long, they again used a set-piece chance, with player Gouiri scoring a goal.
Two to one — Algeria completed the turnaround.
It's worth mentioning that both of their goals were related to corner-kick chances.
This shows that in handling such balls, Algeria prepared very thoroughly and had plenty of ideas.
Jordan, now behind, of course weren't willing to give in, and they wanted to chase another goal to level it again.
However, after taking the lead, Algeria defended quite solidly and didn't give Jordan many chances.
In the end, the match finished two to one, and Algeria had the last laugh.
For Algeria, this was a hard-earned and quite telling victory.
At the disadvantage of conceding first, they didn't panic, but calmly pulled the score back bit by bit and ultimately completed the turnaround.
This ability to keep a steady mindset while behind is exactly the most precious quality of a mature team.
At the same time, that they could score from corners in succession also shows this team's attention to detail.
In high-level matches, set pieces are often the key to breaking a deadlock.
And for Jordan, who lost, they actually played quite well too.
They scored first and tenaciously withstood Algeria's attacks for a long time, showing impressive strength and fight.
For an Asian team, making a strong side like Algeria work this hard is already no small thing, and this match also let people see the progress of Jordanian soccer.
Sadly, in the end they couldn't hold their lead, conceding two in a row in the final stage, losing a bit unluckily.
After the match, the discussion mostly centered on Algeria's comeback.
Some praised Algeria as good at playing from behind, staying calm and composed even when trailing.
Others especially noted that both their goals came from corners, showing this team puts a lot of work into set pieces.
In fact, this is exactly where the charm of soccer lies: even after falling behind, as long as you don't give up and don't panic, you still have a chance to have the last laugh.
And for a team like Jordan, though they lost the match, their fearless, all-out display also won the applause of many neutral fans.
Alright, that's the whole story of the Jordan versus Algeria match; see you next time.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
考纲词. 这是一场颇具戏剧性的比赛。
考纲词. 阿尔及利亚踢得越来越有耐心。
考纲词. 领先之后，他们防守得相当稳固。
考纲词. 落后时稳得住，是成熟球队的品质。
只能跟着对方走，很不主动。早早丢球让他们很被动。
角球、任意球这类把球摆好再开出的球，就是定位球。
本来落后，后来又超过对方，就是反超。
* beyond level超纲词
竟然不是…，而是…
'Surprisingly not …, but …' overturns an expectation.
率先进球的，竟然不是阿尔及利亚，而是约旦。
真正考验…的，恰恰是…
'What truly tests … is precisely …' points to the real measure.
真正考验一支球队的，恰恰是落后的时候。
值得一提的是，…
'It's worth mentioning that …' flags a notable detail.
值得一提的是，他们的两个进球都来自角球。
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