"Son Heung-min even complains to the coach." Foreign media are also illuminated for replacement "discontent explosion" with 2 minutes left

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Heung-min (34, Los Angeles FC) won his first showdown with Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami) in the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS). The team won 3-0 and Son Heung-min himself helped with the winning goal assist. However, the coach's decision to replace him at the last minute of the second half, when the spirit of victory was already in full swing, remained a flaw in the prison.

Son Heung-min started the 2026 MLS opener Inter Miami at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles (LA) on the 22nd (Korea time) and led his team to a 3-0 victory. Son Heung-min assisted the first goal in the 38th minute of the first half with a pass to David Martinez, who was digging into the penalty area. LAFC, which gained momentum, added two goals in the second half to win the game 3-0.

It was a game that drew keen attention even before the game, with as many as 75,673 spectators. This is because it was the first face-off between Son Heung-min and Messi, two superstars representing MLS. The MLS Secretariat also decided on the Memorial Coliseum as the stadium for the first time in MLS history, not the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in consideration of its success. Son Heung-min and LAFC produced perfect results in a game that drew attention not only from the United States but also from all over the world.

However, in the 43rd minute of the second half, Son Heung-min's "replacement out" sign poured cold water on the atmosphere of the game. Coach Mark dos Santos put in Nathan Ordas without Son Heung-min with his team leading 2-0. At the end of the game, which had a two-goal lead, Son Heung-min, the team's core and ace, decided to replace him.

Son Heung-min's expression of strong dissatisfaction when he saw his replacement sign was revealed. All the players want to play as long as possible, and Son Heung-min's willingness to play "full-time" was also inevitable because the match drew more attention due to the confrontation between him and Messi. This was why Son Heung-min's complaint exploded.

In the end, Son Heung-min left the stadium with a firm look on his face. Son Heung-min couldn't hide his regret about the replacement even for coach Dos Santos, who is approaching him as a replacement out. Foreign media also mentioned the replacement scene and highlighted that Son Heung-min openly expressed dissatisfaction. The U.S. edition of Spain's Ashes said, "Son Heung-min left the stadium after being replaced by Ordas, and he even complained to coach dos Santos because he was visibly angry. He didn't like being replaced," he explained.

BB Sports News said, "While LAFC fans celebrated the victory, it was also noteworthy that the main stars of both teams showed distinct frustration. Messi expressed dissatisfaction with the referee several times, and Son Heung-min, who had been influential throughout the game, was replaced in the 43rd minute of the second half. "I left the stadium expressing dissatisfaction with the replacement at the moment when LAFC's victory was imminent," he said.

As for the reason for Son Heung-min's replacement, coach dos Santos explained that the decision was made with the fact that he did not play the preseason properly due to the aftermath of the injury. However, if there were concerns about the actual condition, the timing of the replacement should have been faster, not just before the end of the game. Since the game was so symbolic and it was played in front of more than 70,000 spectators, the fact that "full-time participation" was canceled in vain at the end of the game led to dissatisfaction from Son Heung-min's point of view. Messi remained on the ground until the end after playing full-time despite the deepening defeat on the day.

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*This content was translated by AI.