A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
世界杯决赛：西班牙加时一比零绝杀阿根廷第二次夺冠，托雷斯替补建功、马丁内斯十一次扑救
World Cup Final: Spain Edge Argentina One to Zero in Extra Time for Their Second Title, Torres the Super-Sub, Martínez's Eleven Saves
About this story
A medium Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup final: Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET). Spain took 20 shots, Martínez made a record 11 saves, Enzo was sent off, and substitute Torres struck at 106' to win it. Spain concede just one goal all tournament. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.
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 压轴大戏、卫冕冠军、问鼎 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 let's talk about the grand finale: the World Cup final, where Spain beat Argentina one to zero in extra time to lift the trophy for the second time.
This was the last game of this World Cup, and the most important one.
First, some background.
Argentina are the defending champions from last time, with the legendary superstar Messi anchoring the team.
For many, this may well be Messi's last World Cup, and he badly wanted to win it once more.
Spain, meanwhile, are one of the most talented teams of recent years, set on reaching the top.
Alright, let's look at the game.
Throughout the match, Spain firmly held the initiative from start to finish.
They passed and attacked relentlessly, taking as many as twenty shots.
Argentina, by contrast, had a mere two shots in a hundred and twenty minutes, and barely threatened.
But Spain couldn't score, for one reason only: Argentina's goalkeeper Martínez.
The veteran keeper was heroic, single-handedly making as many as eleven saves, a World Cup final record.
It was precisely thanks to him that Argentina clung to zero-zero.
As regular time drew to a close, something changed on the pitch.
Argentina midfielder Enzo, after a foul, turned two yellows into a red and was sent off.
Argentina were a man down, forced to fight on with ten.
After ninety minutes, still level at zero-zero, the game went to extra time.
The turning point came in the second half of extra time.
Substitute Torres, in the hundred and sixth minute, seized his chance and drilled home.
Porro floated it to the back post, Williams headed it across, and Torres struck it in.
One to zero, Spain finally broke the deadlock.
In the end, Spain won the World Cup one to zero on that precious goal.
So, what did this final leave behind?
For Spain, this is a thoroughly deserved title.
Across eight games at the tournament, they conceded just one goal, a record for the fewest goals allowed by a champion.
This team is sound at both ends, near perfect — an era belonging to Spain may be arriving.
For Argentina and Messi, falling at the very last step is full of regret.
They gave everything, and their keeper almost carried them to the end alone, but fate did not smile on them again.
That's Spain one to zero Argentina, a World Cup final for the history books.
See you next time.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇考纲词。掌握着比赛的节奏、占据上风。西班牙牢牢占据着主动。
考纲词。让人觉得可惜。倒在最后一步，充满遗憾。
最后、最重要的一场好戏。决赛是本届世界杯的压轴大戏。
上一届的冠军，这次还想再拿一次。阿根廷是卫冕冠军。
争夺冠军、登上顶峰。西班牙一心想要问鼎。
守门员挡住对方的射门。马丁内斯做出了十一次扑救。
比赛中换上场的球员。替补登场的托雷斯打进制胜球。
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法反观…
'By contrast, looking at …' — pivoting to compare the other side.
反观阿根廷，一百二十分钟里只有区区两次射门。
正是靠着…，才…
'It was precisely thanks to …, that …' — a decisive cause.
正是靠着他，阿根廷才把比分守在了零比零。
凭借…
'By virtue of / relying on …' — the means to a result.
西班牙凭借这粒宝贵的进球，赢得了世界杯。
Proper Nouns
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