Page 149 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

Sport 2: winning, losing, and scoring

Winning and losing

Notice how these key words are used:
Spain beat Switzerland 3-2. (= Switzerland lost to Spain 3-2) In other words:
Spain won the match. (= Switzerland lost the match)
Spain defeated Switzerland. (= Switzerland were defeated by Spain)
Spain were the winners. (= Switzerland were the losers)
If both teams or players have the same score (= number of goals or points), it is a draw (eg.
2-2 is a draw). We can also use draw as a verb, e.g. we drew yesterday’s match/game 2-2.
Note: A match is used for an organised game: We had a game of football with a few friends
in the park, but we’ve got an important match against a very good team next week.
When the game is still in progress, we often use the verb lead to describe the position of the
teams and players, or latest to describe the score:
HALF-TIME SCORE: SPAIN 2 SWITZERLAND 1
At half-time, Spain are leading Switzerland two-one. (= the latest score is two—one to Spain)
Sampras is leading three-two in the first set. (= the latest score is three-two to Sampras)

What’s the score?
In most games you score goals (e.g. football, hockey) or points (e.g. table tennis,
basketball). At the end of the game there is a result (= players/teams win, lose, or draw).
However, the scoring system — and the way we describe it — is different from game to game.
Football Tennis
Spain 0-0 Italy (we say nil-nil) 15-0 (fifteen-love)
Spain 1-0 Italy (one-nil to Spain) 30-0 (thirty—love)
Spain 1-1 Italy (one-all) 30-30 (thirty—all)
Spain 1-2 Italy (two-one to Italy) 40-40 (deuce) [pronounced like ‘juice’]
Spain 2-2 Italy (two -all) Advantage X
Game X
If the final score is 2-2 in a cup match, Game and set to X (e.g. 6-3 or 7-5)
you may have to play extra time. And If the score reaches 6-6 you have a
if the score is still 2-2 at the end of extra tie-break to decide the set.
time, there is a penalty shoot-out.
Competitions
quarter a knock-out competition
In many sports, players and final
teams play every week in a semi-final

league (the player/team that -=>-—_— final
wins the most games in a
season is the winner of the =
league championship). In i paercereeeennnees
most sports, there is also a =

cup competition, which is >
usually a knock-out

competition. se
English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)
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