pulsating 4-3 defeat
レアルマドリードは、辛うじて準々決勝には進出したようです。
Ronaldo saves Madrid from knockout
The Associated Press
MADRID (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday with two goals in a pulsating 4-3 defeat to Schalke that saw the holders squeeze through to the quarterfinals with a 5-4 victory on aggregate.
http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001996503
pulsating 4-3 defeatという表現を取り上げます。LDOCE5でpulsateを調べますと、“to make sounds or movements that are strong and regular like a heart beating”とあります。これに-ingが付いていますので、「どきどき、はらはら」の「辛うじて」という意味合いで用いられています。(Kawada)