Eight shots in total! Son Heung-min, despite fierce criticism from U.S. media, suffered 'cruel goalpost misfortune'... LAFC secures a thrilling 2-0 victory over New York after just seven games.

*This content was translated by AI.

LAFC striker Son Heung-min (34) unleashed a barrage of shots but failed to score.

LAFC defeated New York Red Bulls 2-0 in their home match for the 25th round of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) held at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the morning of the 10th (Korean time).

Having escaped the frustrating six-game winless streak (four draws and two losses), LAFC maintained third place in the Western Conference with 40 points (11 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses). New York finished in 12th place with 27 points (7 wins, 6 draws, 11 losses).

Arriving at the home stadium that day, Son Heung-min wore a simple outfit of a white T-shirt and gray shorts, striding toward the locker room like a model walking down a runway.

Starting as the forward, Son Heung-min took his first shot in the early stages of the match, just 12 minutes into the first half. During a counterattack, after Buang-ga broke through on the left flank and surged toward the goal, he received a forward pass. Son Heung-min then controlled the ball with his right foot and shot with his left, but was blocked by a defender's tackle.

Son Heung-min's active movement sparked the opening goal. In the 21st minute of the first half, he completely outmaneuvered a defender on the left side of the penalty box using solo skills and struck a powerful left-footed shot. The goalkeeper barely deflected it, but Jude Terry pounced on the loose ball and fired it into the net.

Son Heung-min continued to press. In the 29th minute of the first half, after a defender cleared a corner kick, he quickly controlled the ball with his left foot and shot, but the defender blocked it with his body.

Son Heung-min's assist opportunity was unfortunately thwarted. In the 42nd minute of the first half, inside the box, Son Heung-min found shooting difficult and passed to Jacob Shaffelburg on the left. Shaffelburg immediately shot toward the far corner of the goal, but the goalkeeper dove to make a save.

In stoppage time of the first half, Son Heung-min cut inside from outside the penalty box and took a shot, but this time it was saved by the goalkeeper, leaving him disappointed.

LAFC recorded six shots during the first half, four of which were taken by Son Heung-min. The first half ended with LAFC leading 1-0.

While LAFC attacked actively throughout the first half, they became quiet until midway through the second half. Son Heung-min's barrage of shots also came to a halt.

In the 28th minute of the second half, New York's Jakiel Marshall-Ruth collapsed due to a thigh injury just seven minutes after being substituted in. Marshall-Ruth eventually left the field with medical staff, and since New York had already used all five substitution cards, they were forced to play with only ten players.

Son Heung-min, who had been quiet at the start of the second half, got back into action. In the 23rd minute of the second half, a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box struck the crossbar, and two minutes later, a shot from the left side of the box was blocked by a defender's foot.

Another shot in the 42nd minute of the second half was also blocked by a defender's foot, and in the 43rd minute, Son Heung-min's well-timed header went wide to the right of the goalpost.

LAFC secured the 2-0 victory when Armindo Zepp scored the decisive goal late in the match.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.