US Defeats Iran in World Cup Soccer, Continues to Next Level of Competition

The United States soccer team defeated Iran and will continue to the elimination¹ stage of the World Cup in Qatar.

The team needed a win on Tuesday to continue in the competition. The U.S. will play the Netherlands on Saturday.

The Americans made up for a loss to Iran at the 1998 World Cup because of a first-half goal from Christian² Pulisic.

The American team did not qualify³ for the World Cup in 2018 but this time finished second behind England in Group B. Iran needed only a tie to continue in the competition.

Pulisic was injured in a collision⁴ with the Iranian goalie just before the ball crossed the goal line. He stayed in the game after receiving medical help but did not come back after halftime.

Pulisic is a member of the Chelsea team in the English Premier⁵ League, Britain's top professional soccer group. It was his first World Cup goal.

In the second half, the Americans held off Iran's push. With minutes to play, Iran came close to scoring. The U.S. defender⁶ Walker Zimmerman cleared a loose ball in front of the net as Mehdi Taremi of Iran argued that he had been pulled down.

The U.S. team is the second youngest in the World Cup behind Ghana. Tim Weah said, "No one believed the U.S. could play good football." Weah is 22 and the son of George Weah, a former top soccer player and current president of Liberia.

Weah scored a goal in the U.S. team's opening tie against Wales and nearly scored on Tuesday. His goal was called back, however, as he was judged to be offside.

Iran's players hoped for a different result. The country has never gotten farther⁷ than the group stage.

"I hope that our fans and our people in Iran forgive us. I am just sorry," Taremi said.

Words in This Story

elimination stage –n. a part of a tournament or competition in which the game winner continues and the loser is out of the competition

tie –n. a result of a game in which both sides have the same score

collision –n. a crash involving at least to objects

1 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 qualify   

vt.取得资格，有资格，限定，描述；vi.取得资格，有资格

参考例句：

• I won't qualify until next year.我明年才具备资格。
• You must qualify yourself for the post.你必须使自己具备担任这一工作的资格。

4 collision   

n.碰撞；(利益，意见等的)冲突，抵触

参考例句：

• The car was wrecked by its collision with a big lorry.这辆小轿车是由于和大卡车相撞而碰毁的。
• This collision had a very unusual cause.这次冲突有着非同寻常的原因。

5 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。

6 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。

7 farther   

adj.更远的，进一步的；adv.更远的，此外；far的比较级

参考例句：

• I can throw the ball farther than you can.这个球我能比你扔得远。
• The farther hill is five kilometres away.那座更远的小山在五公里以外。