Son Heung-min to start! Positioned in the second line to support the '22-year-old prospect' as the lone striker... LAFC announces lineup for match against Houston

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korean striker Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) will start the match. He has been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of turning around the team's momentum.

LAFC will face Houston Dynamo in a home match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, at 10 a.m. on the 11th (Korean time) in the 12th round of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS).

This season, LAFC has recorded 6 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses (21 points), placing third in the Western Conference. However, their recent form has not been good. In the previous league match, they drew 2-2 away against San Diego FC, and on the 7th, they suffered a 0-4 defeat away against Toluca (Mexico) in the second leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Earlier, LAFC had won 2-1 at home in the first leg, but the heavy loss in the second leg caused them to fall behind in the aggregate score, ending their hopes of advancing to the final.

For LAFC, which must focus on league schedules for the foreseeable future, this victory is crucial. They need to catch up with Western Conference leader San Jose Earthquakes (29 points) and second-place Vancouver Whitecaps (26 points).

Head coach Marc Dos Santos of LAFC deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation today. Son Heung-min was positioned in the second line to support the attack alongside Jacob Shaffelburg and David Martinez. The lone striker role was taken by '22-year-old prospect' Nathan Ordaz. Midfielders Marco Delgado and Stéphan Eustaquio will orchestrate the midfield. The back four consists of Eddie Segura, Nkosi Tafari, Rayan Fortes, and Sergio Valencia, while veteran Hugo Lloris guards the goal.

Houston, under coach Ben Olsen, lines up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Houston sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with 5 wins and 5 losses (15 points) this season, but their recent form has not been poor, having won three of their last four matches (one loss). However, Houston has been criticized for weak defense, having conceded 18 goals in 10 matches. Son Heung-min's performance is needed.

This season, Son Heung-min has not yet scored a goal, but he has contributed significantly in attack, leading the league with 7 assists. According to football statistics platform FotMob, his season average rating is also a respectable 7.28.

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*This content was translated by AI.