CARSON, California - At times, it looked like a professional team playing against an amateur side. At other times, it looked worse. 

There was a gulf in class between the U.S. and Japan on Tuesday night at the 2015 NTC Invitational. The visitors put together a masterclass performance on the way to a 3-0 win to jump to the top of the standings after the first day of play at the international tournament. Brazil won the earlier game of the day 1-0 over Mexico in an uneventful match. 

For the U.S., this tournament is one of the first steps in a long process of assembling a team and shaping a core group for U20 CONCACAF Championship and then the U20 World Cup. Tuesday was an early measuring stick, and in turn, a learning lesson for Michelle French’s squad. 

The U.S. tried to play a high-pressure style that was meant to disrupt the Japan attack, which tends to build quickly and through the center of the field. The exuberance from the home side brought an extraordinary pace to the game in the opening minutes and led to some success from the forward line in winning the ball back, which created early chances. 

Japan changed the pace of the pass or changed the entry angle into the midfield and then the U.S. pressure was defeated when that second wave was a step too slow. Tuesday’s game film will show plenty of that for the players and the coaching staff.

French was more vocal in her demands of the players from the opening whistle and urged the group to buy into the approach of trapping the Japan defense when trying to build through the channels. French screamed “Don’t let them out of this side” on a number of occasions.

In theory, this is the way that U.S. wants to play in this age group. A punishing system that takes the mistakes of the opponent and quickly turns it into chances. This is the style that will make Mallory Pugh, Taylor Racioppi, and the rest of the U.S. attack the most successful on the global stage. However, when there is a weak link in the chain, or a delayed reaction in the synapse, there is room to move and good teams take advantage of those mistakes. Japan is an exceptional team in this age group. Technically superior and tactically advanced, Japan made those minor defensive miscues look like a knife slicing through the thinnest of fabric. It was a jarring realization that being a step late was equivalent to opening the door and welcoming Japan to waltz down the center of the field. 

Japan did just that. And when the current powerhouse of Asian soccer broke into the box, the forwards were lethal with their finishes. 

U.S. did not have the same type of efficiency around the goal. Emily Ogle had a shot from six yards out that was saved on the line by a Japanese defender, who sat on the ball to keep it from crossing into the goal. Racioppi and Pugh wanted the early goals, but neither could punch in chances around the goal in the first half. 

Perhaps an early strike would’ve been the ticket to upset Japan. Perhaps it would have been enough to help the U.S. pull off a result in the opening game. 

But, that would not have helped this group. The loss may sting, but it’s a good wake-up call at this stage of the process and a valuable piece of knowledge for the group moving forward. There is a level that is suitable for the minnows of the world’s game, and then there is a different level when playing the giants. 

Tuesday, the U.S. played a giant and it felt the brunt of it. With games to come against Mexico on Thursday and Brazil on Saturday, there is ample time for the U.S. to get back up and show that Tuesday was a stepping stone toward the bigger prize in 2016. 

U.S. U20 Women’s National Team Starting XI (4-4-2)

#18 Casey Murphy; #6 Sabrina Flores, #19 Kaleigh Riehl, #4 Natalie Jacobs, #2 Madeline Elliston; #13 Jordie Harr, #12 Emily Ogle, #5 Mikaela Harvey, #10 Marley Canales; #11 Taylor Racioppi, #9 Mallory Pugh (capt.)  

Substitutes:

Ashley Sanchez for Harvey 46’ 

Megan Buckingham for Harr 46’

Savannah DeMelo for Racioppi 64’ 

Parker Roberts for Ogle 64’

Courtney Peterson for Canales 72’

Kelcie Hodge for Pugh 81’

 

U.S. U20 WNT NTC Schedule (all times PT):

U.S. 0-3 Japan, June 2, 6 p.m. 

U.S. vs Mexico, June 4, 6 p.m.

U.S. vs Brazil, June 6, 3 p.m.