まもなく試合が始まった。

まもなく試合が始まった。

It was not long before the game began.

まもなく試合(しあい)が始(はじ)まった。

Mamonaku shiai ga hajimatta.

間もなく (まもなく)

soon; before long; in a short time; lacking time to ...; without time to ...

試合 (しあい)

match; game; bout; contest

が (が)

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

始まる (はじまる)

to begin; to start; to commence; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)

Readings: シ、こころ.みる、ため.す

Meanings: test, try, attempt, experiment, ordeal

Readings: ゴウ、ガッ、カッ、あ.う、 -あ.う、あ.い、あい-、 -あ.い、 -あい、あ.わす、あ.わせる、 -あ.わせる

Meanings: fit, suit, join, 0.1

Readings: シ、はじ.める、 -はじ.める、はじ.まる

Meanings: commence, begin