VOA标准英语2009年-US Soccer Team Hosts Costa Rica in Final W

By Parke Brewer¹
Washington
14 October 2009

The U.S. Men's Soccer Team finishes up its 2010 World Cup qualifying schedule with a home match against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium in Washington. It's a crucial game for the visitors.

The U.S. Soccer Team is very happy that its chances of qualifying for next year's World Cup in South Africa are not coming down to the final match here in Washington, like they are for Costa Rica.

When the Americans won at Honduras last Saturday, 3-2, they clinched² a berth³ in the World Cup finals for the sixth consecutive⁴ time from the North and Central America and Caribbean region, or CONCACAF. If they had lost, they would have needed at least a tie in their final match Wednesday night against Costa Rica to advance.

 
US Soccer Coach Bob Bradley
U.S. coach Bob Bradley told reporters prior to the match in Washington that they accomplished⁵ their goal on the road against a Honduran team that had everything to play for.

"We knew it was a great challenge. We were playing against a team that had a chance on that night at home to qualify for its first World Cup in what would be 28 years, and we viewed it as a big challenge, and we were excited at the end," he said.

Coach Bradley says their goal is still to defeat Costa Rica so they can finish at the top of the group standings, as that could even affect the team's seeding at the World Cup draw in December. "We take a great deal of pride in the ongoing⁶ competition to be the best team in CONCACAF. And in particular I think when you look at the final round there are some things that show what our team is all about," he said.

Coach Bradley mentioned that of the 19 points the U.S. Soccer Team has earned in nine matches, 10 came from games in which they trailed.

Mexico has 18 points and has also qualified⁷ for the World Cup. Costa Rica has 15 and Honduras has 13. Either Costa Rica or Honduras which plays at El Salvador in its final match, will earn CONCACAF's third automatic berth. The fourth place team can qualify for the World Cup if it beats the fifth place team from South America - yet to be determined⁸ - in a two-match playoff.

The U.S. Soccer Team received some bad news the day before it faces Costa Rica. Forward Charlie Davies, who has often been in the starting line-up this year, was involved in a single car accident early Tuesday morning in suburban⁹ Washington and had to undergo surgery. His injuries were described as not life-threatening, but a U.S. Soccer Federation¹⁰ spokesman said they could "possibly" be career-threatening.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 clinched   

v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议）

参考例句：

• The two businessmen clinched the deal quickly. 两位生意人很快达成了协议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Evidently this information clinched the matter. 显然，这一消息使问题得以最终解决。 来自辞典例句

3 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

4 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

10 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。