VOA标准英语2009-US Soccer Team Squeaks Into Confederations C

The U.S. Soccer Team has overcome long odds¹ to reach the Confederations Cup semifinals in South Africa. The U.S. defeated Egypt, 3-0, and got help from Brazil, which beat World Cup champion Italy by an identical² 3-0 score.
　
USA's Charlie Davies, top, challenges Egypt's Hani Said, (l), and goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, (r), during Confederations Cup Group B match in Rustenburg, S. Africa, 21 June 2009

Counted out by just about everyone after lopsided losses to Italy and Brazil at this Confederations Cup, the U.S. Soccer team is surprisingly moving on to the semifinals by the narrowest of margins³.

The second group tiebreaker had to be used after the USA, Italy and Egypt all finished with three points from one win and two losses. Brazil won all three of its matches to top Group B with nine points.

The Americans and Italians finished with goal differences of minus two, while Egypt had minus three. The next tiebreaker was goals scored, and the USA won out over Italy - 4 - 3.

The U.S. took the lead against Egypt in the 21st minute on a goal by forward Charlie Davies, who had not played in the previous two games. He managed to control a rebound⁴ off the Egyptian goalkeeper who was sprawled⁵ on the ground by the left post and booted it in off the keeper's hand.

The Americans held the 1-0 halftime lead. U.S. coach Bob Bradley said they knew in the other group match being played at the same time that Brazil had grabbed⁶ a 3-0 lead over Italy at the intermission.

"At halftime, we felt if we were smart and we continued to press in a good way, then there would be chances and that we could get two more goals," Bradley said. "So in that regard, credit⁷ the players for the push that they made throughout the game. And we're excited to move on."

The second goal for the United States came from the coach's son, midfielder Michael Bradley, in the 63rd minute, off a well-placed cross from captain Landon Donovan. The third goal - the one that would be the key to reaching the semifinals - was scored in the 71st minute on a header by midfielder Clint Dempsey off a long high pass into the box from defender⁸ Jonathan Spector.
　
US Soccer team Coach Bob Bradley with Clint Dempsey at press conference in South Africa, 21 June 2009

Dempsey was named "Man of the Match". He said he knew only the day before the game that the Americans still had a mathematical⁹ chance to make it to the semifinals. He said that to achieve what they did is something special and something to build on.

"You know, you want to end on a good note and try to get something out of this tournament," Dempsey said. "It was important to us to deal with what we dealt with - losing two games to two good teams [Italy and Brazil]. But we were still going to work hard and try to get something out of it, and we did. And I think that says a lot about our coaches and a lot about our team and our mentality¹⁰ in trying to move forward and better ourselves as a national team and as footballers."

So the surprising turn of events on Sunday night with Brazil's 3-0 win over Italy and the Americans 3-0 win over Egypt puts the United States into the semifinals against European champion Spain - the Group A winner. Spain is on an international record 15-game winning streak¹¹.

Group B winner Brazil will face Group A runner-up, host South Africa.

1 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

2 identical   

adj.完全一样的，完全相同的；同一的

参考例句：

• She wore the identical dress on both occasions.她在两种场合穿的是同一件衣服。
• He is identical in character with his wife.他的品性和他的夫人相同。

3 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

4 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

5 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

6 grabbed   

v.抢先，抢占( grab的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指匆忙地）取；攫取；（尤指自私、贪婪地）捞取

参考例句：

• He was grabbed by two men and frogmarched out of the hall. 他被两个男人紧抓双臂押出大厅。
• She grabbed the child's hand and ran. 她抓住孩子的手就跑。

7 credit   

n.信用，荣誉，贷款，学分；v.归功于，赞颂，信任

参考例句：

• I credit him with a certain amount of sense.我认为他有一定的见识。
• He got the credit,and we did the dirty work.他得荣誉，我们做不讨好的工作。

8 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。

9 mathematical   

adj.数学的，数学上的

参考例句：

• The solution can be expressed by a mathematical equation.答案可用一个数学方程式来表示。
• Einstein was a mathematical genius.爱因斯坦是数学天才。

10 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

11 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？