Table of Contents
Chelsea, an English football team, beat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final. The game was played on Sunday in New Jersey, USA.
This is Chelsea’s second time winning this trophy. They last won in 2021.
Cole Palmer was a key player for Chelsea. He scored two quick goals in the first half. Both goals were very similar. Palmer, who is 23 years old, did his special “cold” celebration. Chelsea fans really liked it.
Before this game, PSG, a team from France, had played very well. They only lost one game in the tournament before the final. But Sunday was a bad day for them.
João Pedro also scored for Chelsea in the first half. This was his third goal in the tournament. He just joined Chelsea from another team, Brighton.
At halftime, there was a surprise concert. The British band Coldplay performed with other singers like J Balvin and Doja Cat.
In the second half, Chelsea did not score more goals, but they played strongly. They stopped PSG from scoring and won the game easily. PSG finished the game with only 10 players because João Neves got a red card. He pulled a Chelsea player’s hair.
After the game, Chelsea players celebrated. They wore jerseys that said “World Champions.”
Chelsea have won two trophies this season. They also qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season. Cole Palmer has scored 18 goals this season.
Chelsea’s manager, Maresca, praised his players. He said they played well from the start of the game. Palmer was named the best player of the tournament. Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sánchez, won the best goalkeeper award.
Vocabulary
- English – From England; related to England
- Beat – to defeat an opponent or win a competition; to win a match/game against another person/team; to complete a game successfully
- Final – The last round/game of a competition
- Trophy – A prize given to the winner of a game or competition; ?
- Key – important; crucial; major; essential
- Score – To get points in a game
- Half – e.g., A soccer game has two 45-minute halves. It is 90 minutes long.
- Celebration – A happy act or dance to show joy after doing something good
- Fan – a person who likes a sport, team, or celebrity; supporter; follower
- Tournament – a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
- Just – a very short time ago
- Halftime – The middle of the game when players take a break
- Surprise – unexpected event; something that causes sudden excitement
- Perform – to do; achieve; to carry out; conduct; function; run
- Red card – A card that means a player has to leave the game for doing something wrong
- Celebrate – To do something special or enjoyable for an important event; to party
- Jersey – a shirt for sports teams
- Season – a time period or time of year when a sport is played; a fixed/set number of games for one year of a sport
- Qualify – Meeting the requirements or standards to be eligible or allowed to participate in something; in sports, to win enough points to go to the next round of a tournament
- Manager – coach; the person who tells the players on a team what to do
- Praise – to cheer; to compliment; to approve of; to say nice things about
- Name – to choose someone or something; to appoint; to specify
- Goalkeeper – a player who defends/guards the goal; keeper; goalie
- Award – A prize given for doing something well; ??
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think winning a big international trophy like the Club World Cup is more important than winning a country’s league? Why or why not?
- Cole Palmer was a “key player” and scored two goals. What do you think makes a football player very important for their team’s success?
- There was a concert at halftime. Do you like it when big sports events also have musical performances? Why or why not?
- Chelsea’s manager praised his players. How important do you think a good manager is for a team to win games and trophies?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Chelsea, an _____ football team, beat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 _____ the FIFA Club World Cup final. The game was played on _____ in New Jersey, USA.
This is Chelsea’s second _____ winning this trophy. They last won in _____ .
Cole Palmer was a key _____ for Chelsea. He scored two quick goals in the _____ half. Both goals were very similar. Palmer, _____ is 23 years old, did his special “cold” _____ . Chelsea fans really liked it.
Before this _____ , PSG, a team from France, had played very _____ . They only lost one game in the tournament before the _____ . But Sunday was a bad day for them.
João Pedro also _____ for Chelsea in the first half. This was his third goal in the _____ . He just joined Chelsea from another _____ , Brighton.
At halftime, there was a _____ concert. The British band Coldplay performed with _____ singers like J Balvin and Doja Cat.
In the _____ half, Chelsea did not score more goals, but they played _____ . They stopped PSG from scoring and won the game easily. PSG _____ the game with only 10 players because João Neves got a _____ card. He pulled a Chelsea player’s _____ .
After the game, Chelsea players _____ . They wore jerseys that said “World Champions.”
Chelsea have _____ two trophies this season. They also qualified _____ the UEFA Champions League next season. Cole Palmer has scored _____ goals this season.
Chelsea’s manager, Maresca, _____ his players. He said they played well from the start of the game. Palmer _____ named the best player of the tournament. Chelsea’s _____ , Robert Sánchez, won the best goalkeeper award.
