Son Heung-min Held Silent for 6th Straight Match… LAFC Draws on Bouanga's Equalizer

Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in Major League Soccer (MLS), has now gone six consecutive official matches without recording a goal or an assist.

Starting and playing the full match for LAFC in their 2026 MLS Round 22 home game against the Portland Timbers at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on August 23 (KST), Son failed to produce any offensive points.

LAFC managed a 1-1 draw thanks to Denis Bouanga's equalizing goal in the 34th minute of the second half.

Winless in their last four league matches (2 draws, 2 losses), LAFC remained in third place in the Western Conference with 35 points (10 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses), while Portland, ninth in the West, recorded 28 points (8 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses).

LAFC continued its slump, failing to accumulate wins in the league following their failure to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Leagues Cup.

Despite unleashing a staggering 34 shots (11 on target) by the club's count, LAFC settled for just a single goal on the day.

After returning to the team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America, Son had showcased his enduring form by scoring in four consecutive matches, including his first league goal of the season.

However, he has since failed to find the back of the net in three consecutive Leagues Cup matches against Liga MX (Mexico) sides, followed by three straight league games.

Having been left out of the starting lineup for the first time in 14 official matches during the previous match against Colorado, Son returned to the starting eleven on this day, deployed at the forefront of a 4-3-3 formation.

Son led the LAFC attack alongside Bouanga and Timothy Tillman.

LAFC suffered an early blow just four minutes into the first half.

Receiving a through ball from Kristoffer Velde, David Da Costa slipped into the center of the penalty area and slotted a left-footed shot into the LAFC net, giving Portland the lead.

LAFC squandered a chance to equalize in the 8th minute of the first half when Mathieu Choinière's right-footed shot from in front of the goal was blocked by goalkeeper James Pantemis and bounced off the goalpost.

In the 18th minute of the first half, Son turned with the ball inside the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot, which was caught by the goalkeeper's fingertips.

LAFC was forced to make an early substitution in the 20th minute of the first half when Tillman suffered an injury and was replaced by Jacob Shaffelburg.

Son attempted a left-footed mid-range shot from the left side of the penalty arc in the 27th minute of the first half, but it deflected off a defender.

A right-footed shot from the center of the penalty box in the 33rd minute of the first half also failed to materialize.

During stoppage time of the first half, he earned a free kick at the penalty arc and took a direct right-footed shot, but once again failed to penetrate the defensive wall.

LAFC finished the first half trailing despite registering 21 shots without any reward.

Even into the second half, just eight minutes in, Son's left-footed shot from the penalty arc was blocked by a defender's foot as they struggled to crack the opponent's goal.

In the 28th minute of the second half, Shaffelburg fired a left-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but it lacked power and went straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

LAFC restored parity three minutes after substituting out midfielder Choinière and Yehor Cherko (Note: Yevhen Cheberko) to bring in Jude Terry and Ryan Raposo in the 31st minute of the second half.

Bouanga drove from the left side toward the center and curled a powerful right-footed shot into the back of the net.

LAFC later breathed a sigh of relief when Da Costa scored another goal, which was ruled out for offside.

Although Portland substitute forward Vincent Janssen received his second yellow card and was sent off during stoppage time of the second half, LAFC ultimately had to settle for sharing a single point at home.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.