ACFC 2-0 Houston Dash

This felt like maybe the best, most complete game of the Straus era, and indeed, of the season. Angel City did have the most xG (2.9), the most Shots on Target (9), and the third most Shots (21) of any game this year. The xG is skewed by Niehues’ goal, which had a .87 xG and .99 psxG, which is what happens when you shoot into an empty net. Apparently, according to some models, this was the highest xG Differential ever for a single game.

To Possess or Not To Possess

Possession, to me, is at the root of the lack of an Angel City identity. For most of this team’s existence, my feeling is that the best results have come from playing direct football. During the undefeated run under Becki Tweed, for instance, it was largely gritty football trying to capitalize on opponent’s mistakes. During that run of 8 games, there was only one in which Angel City had more than 50% possession. But then the next season, the messaging was all about possessing the ball, and playing beautiful football. I have to assume that idea came from the top, because I don’t know any coach, let alone one in her very first job as head coach, who would say, “I’d like to do the exact opposite of the tactic that brought me success.” I’m not saying that this is wrong, as I don’t think that Angel City was ever going to win a championship playing in that 2023 style. But after the decision to change, the players recruited in 2024 did not suit this possession-based style, and predictably, the team regressed.

In 2025, the messaging I heard was about control, which isn’t the same as possession, but the two are usually closely related. Which brings us to the present. In the previous match against Kansas City, ACFC had their highest possession of the year (64%), but only generated a single chance worth at least .1 xG. Against Houston, ACFC had 43% Possession, and generated 7 Shots worth more than .1 xG. What is even more interesting is that there were similar formations in both matches, with a 3-4-3 against KC, and a 3-4-2-1 against Houston. Some of this is about the opponent, as Kansas City don’t especially like to have the ball. But even against Houston, I thought we saw Angel City come out more on the front foot in the first half, but then in the second, we sat back a little more, and that was when we scored the two goals.

Personally, I don’t think there is a “right” way to play soccer. Kansas City is having tremendous success with a counterattacking philosophy. Most elite teams in the world, though, do think that building out of the back, and keeping the ball, leads to the most success. The NWSL has an unfair reputation, in my mind, of being a very transitional league, and I think that many NWSL teams are actively trying to play more “beautiful” football to counteract this idea. Straus, historically, had one of the highest, if not the highest, possession marks in the Frauen-Bundasliga during his time at Bayern Munich, but that should be taken with a grain of salt, as almost every team he faced was weaker. The issue going forward for Angel City, is that we have to stick with a plan. We have now recruited better players to play with Possession, like Sugita, but it will take time adapt. This win was great, but my worry is that we’ll get caught in another cycle of trading long term building for short term results, oscillating between the two, and ultimately having a team unsure of how to play. If the plan is to build a possession based style, then I’m behind that. But I’m also behind embracing more games like this. It is still possible to control a match without the ball.

Jónsdóttir

Jónsdóttir was playing in the No 9 role, in both of the last two games, and I wasn’t the biggest fan. I think that she is better out wide, where it’s easier to isolate a defender in a 1v1 situation and she can use her pace to greater effect. But this is a case where my initial observations during the game didn’t line up with the stats. Despite looking fairly isolated up top, and my perception that she usually drives straight at goal when she gets the ball, Jónsdóttir actually combined well with her teammates. She was tied for the team lead in Shot Creating Actions (8, with Fuller), tied for the team lead in Progressive Passes (4, with Moriya, Sugita, and Shores). She led the team in Key Passes, and was 2nd in xAG, and third in xA, from 23 Touches. For comparison, in the recent game against Louisville, Tiernan played the No 9 and had 14 Touches, 2 SCAs, and 1 Key Pass. Jónsdóttir doesn’t have a history of playing as a holdup striker, but this could be an interesting development going forward. I still don’t think that Sraus has found a combination that gets the best out of all of our current attacking players, but finding some versatility in Jónsdóttir is a good start. And while I don’t think that this formation showed off their best, it was still good performances from Jónsdóttir, Tiernan, and Fuller. I’ll be interested to see if Straus goes with this again.

Build Up

Once again, Shores was in Left Centerback. Once again, she lead all outfield players in Long Pass Attempts. And once again, it wasn’t great (3 of 15, 20%). However, on the second goal, I think that we see what Straus wants out of this tactic, even though the pass comes from Moriya. It is the same idea of a long pass on the left, that can unlock the entire defense. I think that the team just needs to find a balance. Suigta had 35 passes in this match, down from 57 in the previous one. Obviously, this goes hand in hand with possession, but if Angel City can find the balance between short passes to the midfield that bypass the first line of defense, and occasional longer passes to the attackers that bypass the first two lines, we could have a very strong build up phase. We also can’t forget that Shores is a rookie, and only joined the team midseason with only one real season of college soccer experience. And this is not a familiar role for her either. I expect her decision making to get better, which will improve her accuracy. When she isn’t forcing her long passes, but rather choosing them when the opportunity presents itself, I think this will be more successful.

The Goals

Fuller 51’ - This starts from a Houston goalkick. Shores wins the header just inside her half, and Fuller wins the second ball, bringing it down and turning into space, centrally. She continues to bring the ball even more centrally, before making the pass against the grain to Sugita on the left. The defender gets a touch, but Sugita still gets to the ball on the endline and puts in a hopeful cross. Jónsdóttir has made the run into the box, and is all alone in the middle of the goal, but it’s a tough window to get a cross through. Luckily for Angel City, Paige Nielsen and Abby Smith both try to block the cross and get in each others way, leading to Smith bobbling the ball, and Fuller pouncing on the rebound for goal. I love seeing a midfielder making the pass to start the break and then following in the play. I think that defenders always forget about you for a second, right after you pass the ball away, and that’s the time to move into quality space. Great work by both Fuller and Sugita, but this Angel City capitalizing on a Houston mistake (actually several), not actually breaking them down. Colossal miscommunication between Smith and Nielsen, bad handling by Smith, even allowing for the miscommunication, and Kiki Van Zanten should have done a better job marking Fuller. Still, this goal doesn’t happen if Fuller doesn’t follow the play in, and if Sugita doesn’t put the ball in a dangerous area. And worth noting that this was winning the ball upfield, and only two passes before the goal. Also worth noting that this was the 4th most Touches that Fuller has had in a game, and tied for most Touches in the Attacking Third. Great involvement from her all game long.

Niehues 86’ - Following a Dash freekick, Miyabi makes the initial clearance, it gets put back in, but Miyabi wins it again, and takes the ball into space in the left. It’s a head’s up play, because Houston has the short passes covered. But Endo, who was in the wall, is the furthest upfield. And crucially, Niehues is at full speed catching up with her. Miyabi finds Endo, who delivers one of the best flicks I’ve ever seen. This is a true hand-it-in-the-Louvre touch, and this should be nominated for goal of the season and assist of the season because it is just that good. FIFA should nominate this for the Marta award. It’s that good a touch, and the seeming non-chalance with which Endo pulls it off leaves me speechless. Niehues picks it up at midfield, and is again lucky that Smith is completely out of position to do anything. Niehues goes around her, and puts the ball in goal. I had thought at first that actually maybe the better play would have been to try and get it back to Endo, but upon watching the replay, I’m not so sure. But Smith did make this easy. If this is Berger, for instance, I’m not sure that Niehues pulls it off. And again, only two passes before the shot. This is very direct play. But I’ll be watching that Endo assist over and over and over.

All stats are from FB Ref.

Angel City’s next game is Sunday 10/19 at 2p Pacific, against the Portland Thorns, and is the last home match for Ali Riley and Christen Press. Get to BMO if you can, but if not, the game is on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, and Disney+.