"Sonny is back": Son Heung-min scores first goal, provides assist, and forces own goal... 'One-man show' involving three goals stuns even the coaching staff

*This content was translated by AI.

"Sonny is back."

As Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), the ace of the South Korean national football team, delivered a 'one-man show' with one goal, one assist, and forcing an opponent's own goal, fans in the United States cheered enthusiastically.

On the 23rd (Korea time), LAFC secured a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake in their 17th-round home match of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA.

With this win, third-place LAFC in the Western Conference has won three consecutive matches. Their season record now stands at 9 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses (30 points). Although they have played one more game than first-place Vancouver Whitecaps and second-place San Jose Earthquakes (both with 32 points), the point gap is small enough that they can enter the race for the top spot at any time.

The hero of the victory was undoubtedly Son Heung-min. Starting as the forward in a 4-3-3 formation, he recorded a goal and an assist while also forcing an opponent's own goal. Son Heung-min was involved in all three goals scored by LAFC.

Football statistics platform FootMob awarded Son Heung-min a rating of 7.8. This was the second-highest among LAFC players, trailing only his teammate Denis Bouanga (8.2).

Son Heung-min also scored consecutive goals in two matches since returning to MLS. He had previously netted against LA Galaxy on the 18th in his return match. The goal was particularly significant as it marked his first league goal of the season and ended a long scoring drought.

Earlier, Son Heung-min bowed his head after failing to score in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Given his age, this could have been his final World Cup stage. The South Korean national team, led by former coach Hong Myung-bo, finished third in their group with one win and two losses, exiting in the group stage, which added to the sense of regret.

However, after the World Cup, Son Heung-min returned to his club LAFC and announced a perfect comeback. Adding one goal and one assist on this day, he recorded his second league goal and 10th assist of the season.

Local media also welcomed Son Heung-min's performance. The official MLS website highlighted his goal-scoring moment, stating, "The Korean superstar unleashed a fantastic curling shot at BMO Stadium."

LAFC fans also celebrated his comeback through the popular online community Reddit, posting reactions such as "Son Heung-min has completely found his touch again."

Son Heung-min's goal came in the 11th minute of the first half. After receiving the ball near the penalty area, Son Heung-min skillfully dribbled past an opponent defender and fired a left-footed shot. The ball flew directly into the net, giving LAFC the lead.

Having taken control early, LAFC continued their attack centered around Son Heung-min and Bouanga. In the 40th minute of the first half, the two players combined for an additional goal.

After blocking an opponent's attack, LAFC immediately launched a counterattack. Son Heung-min delivered a precise pass forward, and Bouanga, receiving a pass from Mathieu Choiniere, calmly shot from inside the penalty box to find the back of the net.

Son Heung-min's pass served as the starting point for the goal and was officially recognized as an assist under MLS rules. This marked his 10th assist of the season in the league.

In the 23rd minute of the second half, Son Heung-min forced an opponent's own goal. LAFC dismantled the Salt Lake City defense with precise one-touch passes. From the right side of the penalty box, Son Heung-min delivered a low and fast pass toward a teammate on the opposite side.

DeAndre Yedlin attempted a sliding tackle to block the ball, but it struck his foot and went straight into the net. While officially recorded as an own goal by Yedlin, the goal was created by Son Heung-min's sharp pass.

Having completed his mission, Son Heung-min came off the bench in the 27th minute of the second half. Over 72 minutes on the field, he recorded one goal, one assist, two shots on target, two chances created, and a 94% pass success rate, leading LAFC to their third consecutive victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.