It’s the most frustrating part of soccer.

Sometimes, though you might dominate ball possession and every other phase of a game, it doesn’t translate to winning.

The U18 Women’s National Team found this out the hard way against LAFC Chelsea Saturday afternoon, forced to settle for a 1-1 tie that left them with more questions than answers.

After his team was able to get only one goal, on a penalty kick, no less, in a game they dominated in every other phase, coach Dave Chesler said his team must improve its finishing in the final third of the field.

“Give them credit, LAFC had a lot of numbers behind the ball because of [our possession advantage], so there was no need for them to transition and get back,” he said. “They already had a lot of players in the box.”

“It’s tough; I thought we could have done a better job of getting around the corners and swinging some crosses in. That’s the only way to create anything dangerous offensively when they’re on their heels like that. I was disappointed in our effort to make strong runs into the box to finish the chances we had.”

Despite their frustration, the U.S. midfield and defense controlled the game’s tempo from the outset.

Center backs Dominique Richardson and Riliegh McHugh were unbreakable, working together to funnel the LAFC forwards to the middle and neutralize their attack.

Outside backs Meagan Morris and Laura Liedle were strong defenders and better passers, repeatedly initiating the U.S. attack with cutting passes through the midfield. Morris also showed several bursts of speed and dribbling down the flank.

Central midfielders Ashley Spivey, Sarah Killion and Morgan Brian were effective distributing the ball and showed good individual attacking skill for most of the game.

They were noticeably absent, though, when LAFC scored its only goal.

A quick LAFC counter attack in the 34th minute led to a string of passes that knifed through the U.S. midfield far too easily. The insertion of Julie Johnston into a holding role late in the first half helped bolster the defensive midfield of the U.S.    

Shea Groom and Ariana Martinez attacked decently along the wings in the first half. Both players showed a tendency to cut the ball inside early on, though, and weren’t able to threaten goal with any crosses.

Mollie Pathman was dynamic on the left wing in the second half, attacking and defending relentlessly when she was on the field. She created a number of chances, and after she was cut down after a burst into the box in the 84th minute, Morgan Brian put the U.S. on the board with her penalty kick.

Lindsey Elston showed good physicality in an attacking midfield role. She also combined with Sarah Killion and Morgan Brian on some nice triangle passes to create scoring chances in the second half.

Chioma Ubogagu showed excellent burst and hit the post on a shot after a nice weaving run in the 26th minute. She showed a tendency to telegraph some passes that were easily intercepted by LAFC defenders, though, and appeared to shy away from contact at times.

And finally, forward Lindsey Horan was dominant. Her blend of physicality, suddenness, tenacity and acute ball control was too much for LAFC to handle. She was the U18s best option up top, but even she was not able to find goal.

It was a learning experience for the U18s, who clearly still have some work to do as they begin preparing for the U20 Women’s World Cup in 2012.

All the tools are there. Now they need to put it all together and learn to finish on the numerous scoring chances they’re already able to create.

With all their talent, they appear likely to figure it out soon enough.  


U.S. U18 WNT Starting Lineup:

GOALKEEPER: Anna Sieloff (Varder; Troy, Mich.)

DEFENDERS (4): Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Riliegh McHigh (Hershey Attack SC; Hummelstown, Pa.), Dominique Richardson (Legends FC; Fullerton, Calif.), Meagan Morris (Montclair Aristocats; Montclair, N.J.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra Storm; St. Simons Island, GA.), Sarah Killion (Fort Wayne Fever; Fort Wayne, Ind.), Shea Groom (KCFC; Liberty, Mo.), Ariana Martinez (So Cal Blues; Moore Park, Calif.), Ashley Spivey (Baltimore Bays; Baltimore. Md)

FORWARD: Kylie McCarthy (San Diego Surf; Rancho Sante Fe, Calif.)


Substitutes by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Rachel Boaz (So Cal Blues; Murrieta Calif.), Caroline Stanley (KCFC Alliance; Kansas City, Mo.)

DEFENDERS (2): Arin Gilliland (Ohio Elite; Wilmore, Ky.), Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.J.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Alexandra Doll (Bethesda SC; Bethesda, Md.), Lindsey Elston (Crossfire Premier, Sammamish, Wash.), Brook Gilbert (Emerald City; Snohomish, Wash.), Julie Johnston (Sereno SC; Mesa, Az.), Mollie Pathman (Triangle FC; Durham, N.C.)

FORWARDS (2): Lindsey Horan (Colorado Rush; Golden, Colo.), Chioma Ubogagu (D’Feeters; Coppell, Texas)