In this week’s review section we look back at some of the big stories from the world of football to help learners of English improve their vocabulary. This week we congratulate Fluminense, wonder what has happened at Chelsea and are amazed at some very unsporting behaviour. You can find explanations of key vocabulary in bold below.
Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Good
Congratulations to Rio side Fluminense after they sealed their fourth Brazilian title when beating Palmeiras a couple of weeks ago. Since then Flu‘ have lost at home as they attempt to break the points record of a single season championship in Brazil currently held by Sao Paolo who managed 78 points. Fluminense need two more points from their remaining two games.
Bad
Bad times for Chelsea football club. They are on the brink of becoming the first holders of the Champions League to be knocked out at the group stage after being thrashed 3-0 by Juventus. They then sacked the manager that had helped them win the Champions League in May, Roberto Di Matteo, and have since replaced him with former Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez. Will he be able to help the Blues overcome their current difficulties?
Ugly
Some ugly scenes in Shakhtar’s 5-2 away win at Danish side Nordsjaelland which saw the Ukrainian side progress to the knock-out stage of the Champions League. Brazilian striker Adriano controversially equalised for Shakhtar when pouncing on a ball that had been sent back to the Danish side’s keeper by another Shakhtar player. Adriano rounded the keeper to score claiming that he did not know that the Nordsjaelland players had stopped. A very unsporting piece of play from the Brazilian.
Vocabulary
sealed their fourth Brazilian title: Won the title
Flu‘: The nickname of Fluminense
thrashed: Very badly beaten
pouncing on: Quickly getting to the ball before anyone else
