|
Son Heung-min helped LAFC halt a three-game losing streak, but his first MLS goal will have to wait until after the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Son started and played the full 90 minutes on May 24 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in LAFC’s Round 15 MLS home match against the Seattle Sounders, yet he came away without a goal or an assist. The game featured a rare matchup between two Korean players, with Seattle’s Kim Ki-hee also in the lineup. LAFC clinched a 1-0 victory thanks to a late winner from Timothy Tillman, snapping the skid.
Aside from two goals in this season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup, Son still has not found the net in league play. He registered seven shots on Sunday but was unable to convert any.
Deployed as a central striker, Son seemed aware this was his final club outing before joining the national team and attacked the game accordingly, launching five shots in the first half. He produced a volley from close range in the 38th minute and tested the goalkeeper with a long-range effort in the 43rd, but both attempts drifted wide.
The second half brought another near miss. In the 67th minute Son met Eddie Segura’s cross with a well-timed header, but he didn’t get clean contact. His best chance came in the 77th minute: Son collected Marco Delgado’s cutback at the top of the box and fired immediately, only to be denied by goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, who got a fingertip to a low, well-placed strike.
Unintentionally serving as a primary creator this season with nine assists in 14 league appearances, Son has frequently dropped deep, taking on responsibilities that differ from a traditional number nine. Critics have suggested LAFC’s tactical setup is suppressing his scoring output, and South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo has indicated he plans to give Son a different role with the national team.
The national team has started focused World Cup preparations in Salt Lake City as Europe-based players, including Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), join the pre-camp alongside Son. Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) is set to arrive on May 27, and Lee Kang-in (PSG) — who plays in the UEFA Champions League final on June 1 — is expected to join on June 1, completing the roster.
With Son heading into camp still searching for a league goal, finding attacking solutions in the final warm-ups has taken on greater urgency. South Korea will fine-tune match sharpness in friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago at 10 a.m. KST on the 31st and against El Salvador at 10 a.m. KST on June 4.
Most Commented