'This is blocked.' Son Heung-min fails to surpass 'Mexico national team goalkeeper' again → 4-game consecutive goal streak ends... LAFC heads to penalty shootout

*This content was translated by AI.

The tight defense of Mexico's prestigious club was indeed no easy task. Son Heung-min (34), who has been performing brilliantly day after day on the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) stage, saw his consecutive goal streak come to a halt.

LAFC played Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) in the first round of the 2026 Leagues Cup at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on the morning of the 6th (Korean time). The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout.

On this day, LAFC deployed Son Heung-min as the central striker. Denis Bouanga and David Martinez lined up as wingers on both flanks, forming a triangle formation with Son Heung-min. The midfield trio consisted of Timothy Tillman, Mark Delgado, and Mathieu Choiniere, while the back four was anchored by Evgeni Cheberko, Nkosinathi Tshabalala, Ryan Porteous, and Ryan Hollingshead. Goalkeeper Thomas Hasal guarded the net.

In the early stages of the match, LAFC struggled against Chivas' aggressive high pressing. Chivas pushed deep into LAFC's defensive zone to disrupt their build-up play. With difficulty in advancing their attack, LAFC found a way forward by having Son Heung-min drop deep into his own half to receive the ball and initiate plays.

It was LAFC who broke through the frustrating deadlock. In the 39th minute of the first half, Bouanga surged into the box following a sharp cross from Martinez and sealed the opening goal with a right-footed shot.

Chivas' counterattack was equally fierce. Just three minutes later, they equalized. In the 42nd minute of the first half, Alvarado's right-footed shot from a chaotic situation inside the box found the far corner of LAFC's goal. The first half ended 1-1.

The back-and-forth battle continued into the second half. In the 7th minute of the second half, Martinez broke through on the flank and took a left-footed shot to add another goal, but the opposing goalkeeper made a crucial save, leaving LAFC with regret.

After that, Chivas gradually gained control of the match. They remained in LAFC's half and continued to test their goal. LAFC struggled to respond effectively through counterattacks. Needing a momentum shift, LAFC made two substitutions in the 29th minute of the second half, bringing on Jude Terry and Jacob Shaffelburg for Martinez and Tillman.

Son Heung-min had a promising shot blocked by the goalkeeper, leaving him with regret. In the 30th minute of the second half, from a free kick near the penalty box, Son Heung-min unleashed a sharp right-footed curling shot aimed at the far left corner of the goal. However, Raul Rangel, the starting goalkeeper for Mexico's national team who faced South Korea in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, dove to make a close save, preventing the goal.

Son Heung-min was substituted off in the 41st minute of the second half. The match then proceeded to a penalty shootout without any further goals.

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*This content was translated by AI.