Son Heung-min delivered his first Major League Soccer hat-trick to inspire Los Angeles FC to a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night. The former Tottenham Hotspur captain, who joined LAFC in August for a reported record $26 million fee, struck twice in the opening half and completed his treble after the break. The 32-year-old forward has now scored five goals in six MLS appearances, underlining his instant impact since moving to the United States.
The match began with early drama as Real Salt Lake nearly went ahead through Diego Luna, only for his shot to drift wide. Within moments, Son made the home side pay by sprinting onto a pass from Timothy Tillman and finishing past goalkeeper Rafael. Thirteen minutes later, Son doubled the advantage with a thunderous long-range strike. LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, another ex-Spurs player, made key saves to protect the lead before halftime. Despite Rwan Cruz missing a penalty for Salt Lake, Xavier Gozo finally pulled one back in the 76th minute. However, Son quickly restored the two-goal cushion by finishing a counter-attack.
See also: 'Insulted for 90 minutes non-stop': Simeone unhappy with Anfield crowd after meltdown
LAFC sealed the win late as Denis Bouanga, who assisted Son’s third goal, added a fourth himself in the 88th minute. The French forward’s strike was his 94th for the club in all competitions, making him the new all-time leading scorer, surpassing Carlos Vela. The result lifted LAFC into fourth place in the Western Conference, moving them two points clear of Seattle Sounders as the playoff race intensifies.
For Son, the performance was another milestone in his decorated career. A former Premier League Golden Boot winner with Tottenham, he has adapted quickly to life in MLS and become an instant fan favourite. His sharp finishing, link-up play, and leadership have given LAFC fresh momentum in attack. The partnership with Bouanga already looks promising, and the presence of veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has added stability at the back.
See also: Chelsea have history against them as they face Champions League test against Bayern Munich
Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, were left to rue missed chances, particularly the wasted penalty that could have shifted momentum. Instead, LAFC capitalised ruthlessly, showing efficiency at both ends of the pitch to record a convincing away victory.
Comments
Post a Comment