VII. Reading comprehension (1).

Read the text and do the tasks after it.

The football match

England won the toss and the Austrians kicked off into the sun. Two free kicks were given against England in the first two minutes, and the English defence cleared them well.

After 15 minutes play the Austrian centre-forward, Buzek, broke away on the left and McDonald, the goalkeeper, did well to tip a fierce drive over the bar. A minute later the Austrians opened the scoring with a magnificent goal, which McDonald had no chance of saving. Left-half Koller, getting possession about 25 yards out, put in a dynamic drive which sped like a bullet into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

The English forwards pressed continuously, but to no avail. In the 28th minute Douglas shot weakly from close in, while at the other end Buzek lost a great chance of making it two for Austria by shooting inches wide of the uprights from close range. Three minutes later Haynes had a wonderful chance to equalize, but he was hesitant and was robbed. After 35 minutes play the English attack had five or six chances of equalizing, but their shooting was wild.

England continued to do well in midfield, but the forwards were completely inept. Two minutes from the interval Robson was dispossessed by the goalkeeper only feet away from the goalmouth. There was a concluding thrill when goalscorer. Koller again put in a blinding shot from well out but this time he was inches wide of the upright. England were all over Austria on the resumption, but they just could not get in a good scoring shot. Twelve minutes after the interval, however, England equalized with a rather lucky goal. It was J.Haynes, who from two yards out put the ball in the back of the net. England continued to dominate the play, but by wild and weak shooting in front of the goal they failed to press home their advantage.

In the 10-th minute the Austrians went ahead with another goal from well out. Alfred Koerner, the inside-left, put in a stinging drive from nearly 25 yards out which hit the upright and glanced off into the net to put Austria ahead 2=1. Almost from the restart England netted again, Robson scoring from just inside the penalty area. From the Press stand it looked a perfectly good goal, but the referee ruled it no goal presumably for hands.

Four minutes later Kevan equalized, rushing the ball through from close in from a pass by Haynes. Both sides fought hard for the winning goal, but neither goal-keeper was seriously troubled in the closing stages and the game ended in a stalemate.

Explain in English what is meant by:

1. to kick off into the sun

2. from close in

3. inches wide of the upright

4. their shooting was wild

5. from well out

6. England equalized with a rather lucky goal

7. to press home their advantage

8. Press stand

9. to rule it no goal

10. winning goal

Give synonyms to following words and phrases:

1. a magnificent goal

2. a great chance

3. to equalize

4. to be hesitant

5. to be inept

6. a concluding thrill

7. resumption

8. to dominate

9. closing stages

Imagine you are a sports commentator. Write your own sporting comment on any football event.