Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Mal cortou a meta, o piloto foi-se embora. - As soon as he crossed the finish line, the driver left.

The word mal (meaning "as soon as") takes the indicative when it refers to a completed action in the past or a routine in the present. Since the driver already crossed the finish line in this specific event, we use the normal past tense (cortou). You only use the subjunctive with mal when talking about a future, uncertain action (for example, "As soon as he crosses the line tomorrow...").

Why does the sentence use cortou (cut) instead of a direct translation for "crossed"?

In Portuguese, the standard expression for crossing a finish line in a race is cortar a meta, which literally means "to cut the finish line." This comes from the image of a runner physically breaking the tape at the end of a race.

Where does foi-se embora come from, and why is there a se?

It comes from the expression ir-se embora, which means "to leave" or "to go away." The reflexive pronoun se emphasizes the action of leaving, but it is actually optional here. Saying o piloto foi embora is also perfectly correct and means the same thing.

Why does the pronoun attach to the end in foi-se instead of coming before the verb?

In European Portuguese, pronouns attach to the end of the verb with a hyphen in affirmative sentences, unless a "magnet word" pulls it to the front. The phrase o piloto foi-se embora is an affirmative main clause without any negative words or special conjunctions acting as magnets, so the pronoun stays at the end.