Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Sports232 words2 min read

River wins again as Almada makes winning start

a river running through a lush green forest
Photo by ANHELINA OSAULENKO on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

River Plate, one of Argentina's biggest football clubs, has ended a difficult period after going 399 minutes without scoring a goal. The team's drought is now over.

Before this match, River had played four games in a row without a single win. This poor form made fans and the media worried about the club's season.

The turning point came in the debut match of new coach Almada. It was his first official game leading the team, and it brought good news for River fans.

River's opponent was Argentinos Juniors, a team that had not lost a match all year. Argentinos went into the game with an unbeaten streak, making them a tough test for River.

However, River managed to score a goal, breaking the long silence in front of the net. This goal helped the team secure a much-needed victory.

The win not only gave River its first success in four games but also ended Argentinos' unbeaten run. It was a strong statement from Almada's first match in charge.

After the game, attention turned to how River would react on the pitch in future matches. Fans and analysts are now watching closely to see if this win marks a real change or just one good result.

For Almada, the pressure will now be on to show that this victory was the start of a new, more successful period for River Plate.

Vocabulary7 words

drought
a long time without something good happening, like goals
debut
the first time someone appears or plays
unbeaten
never losing
streak
a series of results in a row
form
how well a team is playing recently
pitch
the field where football is played
coach
the person who leads and trains a team

Quiz

1. What ended for River Plate in this match?
2. How many games had River played without winning before this match?
3. True or False: Argentinos Juniors remained unbeaten after this match.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

River Plate, one of Argentina's biggest football clubs, has ended a difficult period after going 399 minutes without scoring a _____. The team's drought is now over.

Before this match, River had played four games in a row without a single _____. This poor form made fans and the media worried about the club's season.

The turning point came in the _____ match of new coach Almada. It was his first official game leading the team, and it brought good news for River fans.

River's opponent was Argentinos Juniors, a team that had not lost a match all year. Argentinos went into the game with an _____ streak, making them a tough test for River.

However, River managed to score a goal, breaking the long silence in front of the net. This goal helped the team secure a much-needed _____.

The win not only gave River its first success in four games but also ended Argentinos' unbeaten _____. It was a strong statement from Almada's first match in charge.

After the game, attention turned to how River would react on the _____ in future matches.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think a long goal drought can affect a football team's confidence?
  2. What pressure do you think a new coach faces in their first match?
  3. How important is it for a team to end an opponent's unbeaten run?
  4. What would you expect from River Plate in the matches following this win?

More Sports stories