VOA标准英语2009年-US Seeks World Cup Berth Against Honduras

By Jim Stevenson
Washington
08 October 2009

The U.S. men's national soccer team will have a chance to secure a place in the 2010 World Cup with a win against host Honduras, in San Pedro Sula on Saturday. The U.S. team will also have one last chance next week if needed to reach football's premier¹ event.

The United States leads the regional standings with 16 points as it seeks its sixth straight World Cup berth². Mexico has 15 points. Honduras is currently third with 13 points followed by Costa Rica with 12. The top three teams in the CONCACAF region qualify for the finals in South Africa. The number four team advances to a playoff against the fifth-place nation from South America.

 
US soccer coach Bob Bradley looks at his player after a training session (Sept 2009 file photo)
A victory over Honduras will qualify the United States for the World Cup finals. U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his players expect a tough game. Honduras is unbeaten at home in qualifying and a boisterous³ crowd is likely in San Pedro Sula.

"This game means everything to Honduras and its people," Bradley noted⁴. "The atmosphere in the stadium will be loud, passionate⁵, exciting. And we have seen that in other places and so we draw the parallels and draw upon those experiences. I think that will work well for us."

The United states withstood some early mistakes to beat Honduras, 2-1, at Chicago's Soldier Field in a qualifier in June. The U.S. men also beat Honduras, 2-0, at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.

Despite having not lost to Honduras in their last five meetings, Bradley says the two teams know each other well and any outcome is possible.

"It has been a very, very tight final round because of some of the other results. But the opportunity to go there and play to win and come away with three points is a great challenge," Bradley said. "One that we are embracing. And I think we are going to go for it with everything we have knowing that obviously we still have the home game to follow."

A poor result in Honduras would leave the United States seeking a win or a tie in an all-important final match against Costa Rica on Wednesday at R.F.K. Stadium in Washington, D.C.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 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。

3 boisterous   

adj.喧闹的，欢闹的

参考例句：

• I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
• The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。