Leverkusen and Schalke drop points at German Bundesliga

 　　BERLIN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Schalke shared points with Augsburg following a goalless draw and Leverkusen were also held to a draw at Freiburg while Frankfurt inflicted¹ Hoffenheim their 12th loss of the season at the 19th round in the German Bundesliga on Saturday.

　　The "Royal Blues²" were unable to maintain their upward trend after their 5-4 goal festival win over Hannover last week, as they were held to a goalless draw to courageous³ bottom team Augsburg.

　　The visitors staged a sluggish⁴ performance meanwhile Augsburg worked out goal scoring opportunities through Ja Cheol Koo who tested Timo Hildebrand with a well-placed shot into the top right corner.

　　It was a wakening call for the "Royal Blues" that ensured the first chance through Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who's turn shot from close range was parried by Augsburg goalkeeper Alexander Manninger. At the second half both sides exchanged attacks but their poor finishes made it impossible to set the course for the win.

　　The share of points moves Augsburg on a relegation⁵ playoff spot whilst Schalke missed the chance to approach an UEFA Champions League playoff spot.

　　Bayern chasers Leverkusen defended their second place against Dortmund although they were held to a goalless draw to Freiburg to drop points at the title race.

　　The "Werkself" occupy second position with 37 points, eight points adrift of the Bavarians while Freiburg drop from 6th to 8th position with 27 points.

　　Hoffenheim stagnates⁶ at the bottom of the Bundesliga standings with only two points out of the last nine games as Frankfurt craved⁷ out three points on home soil.

　　Both sides were able to produce scoring chances but it were Frankfurt that broke the deadlock⁸ with 35 minutes played as Martin Lanig utilized⁹ a through ball by Takashi Iniu to beat Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Tim Wiese.

　　Hoffenheim turned up at the second half to restore parity¹⁰ when Kevin Volland used Martin Beck's cross into the box to volley home at the 65th minute.

　　Hoffenheim seemed content with the draw therefore they were punished by Frankfurt that snatched three points as Stefan Aigner tapped in the 2-1 decider at the last post with 68 minutes played.

　　Newly promoted stunners Eintracht Frankfurt hold course for Europe next season due to their consolidation¹¹ of fourth place with 33 points.

　　Ten men Hannover sealed their eighth win of the season after their 2-1 win over Wolfsburg.

　　Hannover opened the scoring with only four minutes on the clock as Mohammed Abdellaoue capitalized on a black out by "Wolves" defender¹² Simon Kjaer to beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio with a curl into the top right.

　　Wolfsburg turned up but was unable to convert their efforts into a tangible¹³ reward.

　　Hannover's new arrival Sebastien Pocognoli weakened his side when he was sent off with a straight red card owing to a foul¹⁴ play to Fagner Conserva Lemos at the 35th minute.

　　Nonetheless ten men Hannover doubled the lead through Mame Biram Diouf to seal the deal seven minutes before the break as Wolfsburg was only able to score their consolation¹⁵ through Alexander Madlung.

　　Elesewhere, Monchengladbach defeated newly promoted Dusseldorf whereas Mainz cruised to a 3-0 win over relegation threatened Greuther Fuerth.

　　The following fixtures¹⁶ are scheduled for Sunday: Hamburg host Bremen at the Northern derby while Stuttgart encounter front runners Bayern Munich at the Southern derby.

1 inflicted   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
• Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。

2 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

3 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

4 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

5 relegation   

n.驱逐，贬黜；降级

参考例句：

• Liaoning team lost this game, is still deeply avoid relegation zone. 辽宁队本场失利后，仍然深陷保级区。 来自互联网
• In society, relegation is based on your income. 社会上的规类是以你的收入为基准。 来自互联网

6 stagnates   

v.停滞，不流动，不发展( stagnate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The water stagnates in the ditch. 水在沟中停滞而变浊。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Consequently, income per capita stagnates. 其结果，人均国民收入停滞不前。 来自辞典例句

7 craved   

渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求

参考例句：

• She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
• A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。

8 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

9 utilized   

v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In the19th century waterpower was widely utilized to generate electricity. 在19世纪人们大规模使用水力来发电。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The empty building can be utilized for city storage. 可以利用那栋空建筑物作城市的仓库。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 parity   

n.平价，等价，比价，对等

参考例句：

• The two currencies have now reached parity.这两种货币现已达到同等价值。
• Women have yet to achieve wage or occupational parity in many fields.女性在很多领域还没能争取到薪金、职位方面的平等。

11 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

12 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。

13 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

14 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

15 consolation   

n.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
• This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。

16 fixtures   

（房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动

参考例句：

• The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
• The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了，钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹