English Essay by Sunil Kapoor, Niigata City ALT
67 What a Weekend! (part 2) ＲＥＡＤＩＮＧ (slow)(fast)
What a Weekend! (Part 2)
The
tournament was played in three different places around Niigata City. Day One was on Saturday in Seiro, and it was
raining on-and-off. The first
game was Niigata versus Croatia.
Most people expected Croatia to win the game, but Niigata scored
the first goal. In fact, Niigata
scored two more goals and led 3-0 after only 25 minutes. Everyone was very surprised! But Croatia quickly found their feet. They scored four times in the next 20
minutes. Seven goals were scored in
the first half, but there were no more goals in the second half. Niigata played very well, but the final score
was Croatia 4, Niigata 3.
During the second half of the
game, the USA team and coaches arrived at the side of the pitch. It was a very casual and relaxed
atmosphere. So I was very happy to
talk with some of them. The American
team’s head coach told me he was happy and excited to be here. He said the team came to Japan only to play
in the Niigata tournament. I was
impressed.
The next game was USA versus Japan. I was very excited because I am American, and
I’m a big soccer fan. My American friend
was with me, and together with my family, we all cheered for the
USA. But we were the only USA
supporters.
The USA-Japan game was very
exciting. Japan scored the first goal,
and they had most of the chances.
It was raining heavily during the second half, so the
conditions were very difficult for both teams. We cheered loudly for the USA, and maybe
it helped them. The USA scored two
counter-attack goals in the second half, and they won the game 2-1. We were very excited.
After the game, the American players waved
at us, thanking us for the support.
The USA team manager and staff came to thank us too, and they
gave us some USA soccer pins and stickers. We were very happy to receive
them. I will never forget that
day. (More to come.)
＜注＞
on-and-off（時々），Niigata versus
Croatia（新潟対クロアチア）
expected（期待した），In fact（実際には）
led（導いた，leadの過去形）
after only 25 minutes（わずか２５分後）
found their feet（環境に慣れた，本領を発揮した）
four times（４回），in the first half（前半で）
in the second half（後半で），During（〜の間）
at the side of the pitch（ピッチ＜プレーする場所＞のそばで）
casual and relaxed atmosphere（気軽でリラックスした雰囲気）
head coach（ヘッドコーチ＜コーチの一番上に立つ役職＞）
to be here（ここ＜新潟＞に来ることが出来て）
was impressed（感動した），all cheered（皆，応援した）
the only USA supporters（唯一のアメリカサポーター）
most of the chances（ほとんどのチャンス）
It was raining heavily（ひどく雨が降っていた）
the conditions were very difficult（コンディションは大変悪かった）
both（両方の），maybe it helped
them（たぶん応援が彼らを救った）
two counter-attack goals（２つのカウンターアタック＜反撃＞でのゴール），waved（手を振った）
thanking us（私たちに感謝しながら）
came to thank us（私たちに御礼を言うために来た）
soccer pins and stickers（サッカーの記章とステッカー）
will never forget（決して忘れないだろう）
Questions
& Answers for Part 2
Please
answer the questions in a complete sentence and in English.
Q1. In how many different places around Niigata
City was the tournament played?
Q2. What was the final score of Niigata versus
Croatia?
Q3. Was the American coach happy and excited to
be here?
Q4. How was the weather during the USA-Japan
game?
Q5. What did the USA team manager and staff give
Sunil and his friend after the game?
Answers
A1. It was played in three different places around
Niigata City.
A2. It was Croatia 4, Niigata 3.
A3. Yes, he was.
A4. It was raining heavily.
A5. They gave them some USA soccer pins and
stickers.
