Son Heung-min Scores First MLS Goal of the Season in First Match Since World Cup

National football team captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) has scored his first goal of the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season in his first match back with his club following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Son started in the 16th round of the 2026 MLS regular season against the LA Galaxy, held at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on July 18 (KST), and netted an additional goal in the 12th minute of the second half to extend the team's lead to 2-0.
This marks Son's first league goal of the season.
Since the start of the season, Son had previously recorded two goals in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Having left for the World Cup with nine assists and no goals in the MLS since the season opener in February, Son returned to his club after the disappointment of a group stage elimination and found the back of the net in his very first game back.
LAFC, which resumed its schedule after the World Cup break with a local rivalry match against the LA Galaxy known as El Trafico, secured a 3-0 victory. With this win, the team achieved two consecutive league victories, bringing their record to 8 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses, placing them third in the Western Conference with 27 points.
Son, who made his first appearance against the LA Galaxy since joining LAFC last summer, led the starting attack alongside Denis Bouanga and Jacob Shaffelburg.
Although the LA Galaxy initially dominated the match with a more solid performance on both offense and defense, leaving LAFC with few opportunities, LAFC opened the scoring in the 26th minute.
A cross from Shaffelburg on the right flank was headed by Mark Delgado, and after the ball deflected off an LA Galaxy player and landed nearby, Delgado pushed it in with his right foot to score the opening goal.
Son, who had fallen after being struck in the head by the leg of opposing defender John Nelson during a scramble in front of the goal in the 29th minute, got back up and attempted a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area in the 42nd minute off a cross from Bouanga, but the ball sailed over the goal.
LAFC earned a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the 43rd minute when Bouanga was pushed down by an opponent inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick.
While it initially appeared that Son would step up to take the penalty, the responsibility shifted to Bouanga, who converted with a powerful right-footed shot to make it 2-0.
Although Son passed up what could have been his first league goal, he fully made up for it by scoring his long-awaited goal just 12 minutes into the second half.
Dribbling from the right flank toward the center, Son passed the ball to Delgado near the penalty arc, received it back, and fired a right-footed shot into the net.
After receiving congratulations from his teammates, Son performed his signature celebration—jumping and bumping arms with Bouanga—before clenching both fists to celebrate his achievement.
Bolstered by Son's early clinching goal, LAFC maintained a comfortable lead and comfortably closed out the match, substituting Son for Tyler Boyd in the 30th minute of the second half to utilize their bench.
(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.