A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
2:36
世界杯八强赛：梅里诺读秒绝杀，西班牙二比一淘汰比利时
World Cup Quarter-Final: Merino's Last-Gasp Winner — Spain Beat Belgium 2-1
An easy Chinese listening lesson on the World Cup quarter-finals: Ruiz opens, De Ketelaere equalizes, and substitute Merino's 88th-minute winner sends Spain past Belgium 2-1 into the semis. HSK 2 vocabulary on two heavyweights, an equalizer, and a lucky super-sub.
This is an HSK 2 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 八强赛、四强、传控 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 we're talking about a thrilling World Cup quarter-final: Spain beat Belgium two to one with a goal at the very last moment.
This was a duel between two strong sides.
First, a word on Spain.
Spain are a young and very capable team, who like to pass the ball one touch at a time and slowly control the game.
Now a word on Belgium.
Belgium are known as the "Red Devils of Europe," with many big-name players and a very strong side.
Alright, let's look at the game.
This was an evenly matched game, with both teams wanting to win.
In the first half, in the thirtieth minute, Spain scored first.
The scorer was named Ruiz — one to zero.
Spain led, and the whole stadium was thrilled.
But Belgium hit back quickly.
In the forty-first minute, De Ketelaere leveled it for Belgium — one to one.
The two teams were back on the same line.
For the rest of the game, the two teams traded blows, both wanting to score again.
But right up to near the end, the score was still one to one.
It looked like the game would end in a draw.
Then in the eighty-eighth minute, Spain's substitute Merino stepped up.
He seized his chance and struck the ball into the net — two to one!
This goal came so late, and was so important.
Belgium had no time left to chase it.
In the end, Spain won the game two to one and reached the semi-finals.
So, how should we view this game?
For Spain, this is a hard-fought and crucial win.
Against an equally strong Belgium, they were very patient, waiting all the way to the end for that goal.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time Merino has scored in the final moments — he really is Spain's lucky charm.
For Belgium, losing is truly such a shame.
They played every bit as well, and were just a tiny bit short of reaching extra time.
That's Spain two to one Belgium, a game belonging to Spain, and to Merino.
See you next match.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
考纲词。运气好。他真是西班牙的幸运球员。
决出最后八强之后的比赛。这是一场世界杯的八强赛。
比赛剩下最后四支队伍。西班牙进入了四强。
靠不停传球控制比赛的打法。西班牙喜欢一脚一脚地传球。
反过来还击对手。但是比利时很快就回击了。
把落后的比分追成一样。德凯特拉雷为比利时扳平了比分。
比赛中换上场的球员。替补球员梅里诺站了出来。
* beyond level超纲词
眼看…就要…
'It looked like … was about to …' — a moment right before a change.
眼看比赛就要打成平局了。
已经不是第一次…了
'This isn't the first time …' — a repeated pattern.
梅里诺已经不是第一次在最后时刻进球了。
只差一点点就…
'Just a tiny bit short of …' — narrowly missing.
他们只差一点点就能进入加时赛。
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