'Thanks to Son' — Son Heung-min receives glowing praise from the coach despite no goals... What was the reason?

*This content was translated by AI.

This is why Son Heung-min (34) cannot be evaluated solely based on offensive points. Marc Dos Santos, LAFC's head coach, highly praised Son's defensive contributions that helped end a six-game winless streak.

Coach Dos Santos attended the official press conference after securing a 2-0 victory over New York Red Bulls in the 25th round of the 2026 U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) home match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on the 10th (Korean time).

Responding to questions from local reporters, Coach Dos Santos said about Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga's synergy: "They are top-level players. When top-level players are on the field, they find each other." He added, "Like in the Salt Lake City match, the two played close to each other. Depending on game situations, whether playing a 3-4-3 or 5-2-3 formation, the two can stay closer by not spreading wide on the flanks but moving inward."

He continued, "In transition moments, when Son Heung-min and Bouanga are close together, it becomes very threatening for the opponent. The two performed exceptionally well. Son Heung-min ran hard defensively for the team and was ultimately rewarded."

Furthermore, he noted, "With outstanding players like Bouanga and Son Heung-min up front, building a solid defense allows us to create chances and secure three points at any time. Using a back-three formation enables Bouanga and Son Heung-min to stay closer together rather than spreading wide on the flanks."

In fact, Son Heung-min, who started as the forward today, led the attack throughout the match with eight shots alone. In the 12th minute of the first half, he received a forward pass from Bouanga and took his first shot. In the 21st minute, he beat a defender with a solo move on the left side of the penalty box and fired a powerful left-footed shot. The goalkeeper parried the ball, and Enco Taparia scored by pushing in the loose ball for the opening goal.

Son Heung-min's offensive pressure continued into the second half. In the 23rd minute, his left-footed shot from directly in front of the arc struck the crossbar. He took shots in the 25th and 42nd minutes and attempted a header in the 43rd minute. LAFC sealed the match with a 2-0 victory thanks to Armin Džafić's decisive goal late in the game.

Regarding breaking a six-game winless streak (four draws, two losses) and maintaining third place in the Western Conference (40 points), Coach Dos Santos stated: "This is an incredibly significant victory. When good performances are followed by draws, frustration grows. The players proved they deserve three points." He added, "The system is just a starting point; what matters most is the players' attitude and mental strength. Today, the players' attitude was perfect on a scale of 10, and everyone ran and supported each other. When such dedication exists, results follow. Today, we enjoyed the game, recovered well, and will prepare for the next match while maintaining our momentum."

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*This content was translated by AI.