KOR
▲ Son Heung-min celebrates his goal during the first half of an MLS match held in Vancouver.
US professional soccer club LAFC's Son Heung-min has extended his scoring streak to four consecutive matches following the North and Central America World Cup.
Playing away against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 19th round of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, on the 2nd (KST), Son netted LAFC's opening goal in the 37th minute of the first half with a brilliant right-footed turning shot.
With this goal, Son recorded his 4th MLS goal of the season while enjoying the thrill of scoring in four straight games.
Son, who had remained silent in regular-league scoring since the MLS opening in February, scored his first goal in a match against the LA Galaxy on June 18—his first game back following the 2026 North and Central America World Cup break—followed by consecutive goals against Real Salt Lake on the 23rd, Sporting Kansas City on the 26th, and Vancouver today, making it four games in a row.
Including two goals scored in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, Son's total official goals this season stand at six.
However, LAFC failed to protect Son's opening goal, conceding an equalizing penalty kick to Vancouver's veteran striker Thomas Müller in the 31st minute of the second half, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
As a result, LAFC recorded 10 wins, 4 draws, and 5 losses (34 points, goal difference +16) in the Western Conference, maintaining second place behind leaders Vancouver (10 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses, 34 points, goal difference +21) due to goal difference despite having the same number of points.
Today's match drew intense attention from fans not only as a showdown between the top two teams in the Western Conference, but also as a pride battle between Son and Müller, both of whom moved to MLS after enjoying stellar careers in the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga.
Both players played the full match, trading one goal each to end in a draw in both the match result and their individual competition.
LAFC struggled early in the first half against Vancouver's strong offensive pressure and tight defensive wall.
Busy defending against Vancouver's attacks, LAFC saw Son launch a quick counterattack in the 10th minute of the first half, but he was instantly surrounded by three defenders and failed to create a chance.
Surviving a brief scare, Vancouver appeared to take the lead in the 27th minute of the first half when White slotted home a ball laid off by Müller from the left side of the box, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Struggling with zero shots, LAFC finally took the lead in the 37th minute of the first half with a "one-shot, one-kill" moment as Son turned the team's very first shot into the opening goal.
LAFC's Jacob Shaffelburg applied heavy pressure on Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon to force a turnover, and Denis Bouanga intercepted the ball, rushing forward to pass to Son in the center of the penalty area.
Controlling the ball, Son executed a right-footed turning shot with his back to the defense, shaking Vancouver's tightly guarded net to complete the opening goal of the match and his fourth consecutive scoring game.
Ending the first half up 1-0, LAFC continued to struggle to create scoring opportunities in the second half under heavy pressure from Vancouver.
Managing their second shot of the match only in the 3rd minute of the second half, LAFC ultimately let a sure victory slip away by conceding an equalizing penalty kick in the 31st minute of the second half.
Just as Vancouver's Müller collected a cross sent from the left flank at the front of the penalty area, LAFC defender Yevhen Cheberko pulled him down, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Müller calmly converted the penalty to equalize and prevent his team's defeat.
Son missed out on a multi-goal game when his shot after cutting into the left side of the penalty area in stoppage time of the second half flew well over the crossbar, and his free kick from just outside the center of the penalty arc near the end of the match failed to clear the defensive wall.
With Vancouver firing off 19 shots and LAFC responding with 5, the match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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