"They came first in the last soccer competition."

Translation: 上一次的足球比赛，他们是第一。

[JonathanSt520526]

Do you have to use the 上一次的 construction? Could you just say 上次足球比赛？

[carpiediem]

Does there not need to be a proposition in the Chinese sentence to clarify that the action happened "in" or "at" the competition?

[AbunPang]

Not necessary. 上一次的足求比赛 is used as a topic: "As for the last football competition, they were first."

[carpiediem]

Fair enough. It's easy enough to understand when the comma is included, but tough for me to parse, otherwise.