Honduras beats US 2-1 in World Cup qualifier

 　　TEGUCIGALPA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Honduras beat the United States 2-1 Wednesday in the opener of regional qualifying games for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

　　Three teams will get tickets for Brazil 2014 World Cup in the Concacaf (Confederation of North American, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) qualifying tournament.

　　The local team started in good shape but the US team resisted the attack during the first minutes.

　　Some 30,000 fans gathered in the San Pedro Sula Olympic Stadium to cheer for their team.

　　At minute 35, the visitors took advantage in the score and silenced the Honduran fans when Clint Dempsey, with a right shot, defeated goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

　　Four minutes later, Victor Bernardez sent a center to Maynor Figueroa, who downed it to Juan Carlos Garcia so he could kick the ball and defeated goalkeeper Tim Howard, to draw the game.

　　At minute 78, Boniek Garcia, with great speed, grabbed the ball from a US defender¹ so Jerry Bengston could softly kick and score Honduras' second goal.

　　After the second goal, the US players pressed from middle field and advanced the offensive line but they couldn't break the strong Honduran defense².

　　The US players' tiredness was notorious, possibly affected³ by the 36 Celsius⁴ degrees in San Pedro Sula.

　　The rest of the teams who play in Concacaf's qualifying tournament are Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and Jamaica.

　　The first three positions get a direct ticket to Brazil 2014 while the fourth one will play a runoff game with a team from Oceania, which will probably be New Zealand.

1 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。