Son Heung-min, who plays for Los Angeles FC (LAFC) in Major League Soccer (MLS), broke his goal drought after eight official matches, but the team failed to snap its winless streak.

Starting and playing the full match, Son recorded one goal and one assist during the 2026 MLS regular-season Round 24 away match against Real Salt Lake held on the 6th (KST) at America First Field in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This marks Son's first goal in five MLS games and eight official matches overall.

Since scoring his 4th league goal on August 2 against the Vancouver Whitecaps in a 1-1 league draw, Son had been silent for seven consecutive official matches across the MLS and Leagues Cup.

With his 5th MLS goal of the season, Son brought his total season tally to 7 goals (and 18 assists) in official matches, including two goals in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Additionally, by recording his 11th league assist, Son climbed to a tie for second place in the assist category, right behind Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, 12 assists).

Notably, Son has continued his dominance against Salt Lake, scoring in all four of his matches against them since moving to the MLS, totaling 6 goals and 3 assists.

In two encounters last year, he led the team to comfortable 4-1 victories with a hat-trick in one and a goal and an assist in the other. He also added a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win during their first matchup this past July, before adding another goal and assist in this match.

Despite Son's stellar performance, LAFC drew 2-2 with Salt Lake.

Winless in their last six league matches (4 draws, 2 losses), LAFC precariously held onto third place in the Western Conference with 37 points (10 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses).

Salt Lake recorded 29 points (8 wins, 5 passes, 9 losses).

On this day, Son was deployed at the front line, leading LAFC's attack alongside Denis Bouanga and Tyler Boyd.

LAFC broke the deadlock 14 minutes into the first half.

Son sent a pass from his own half to the opponent's left flank. Bouanga drove the ball into the left side of the penalty area, shook off a defender, and curled a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the net.

However, 18 minutes into the first half, LAFC failed to properly clear the ball amidst a packed defense, allowing Saba Lobjanidze to score the equalizer.

Son restored the lead in the 38th minute of the first half with a goal of his own.

Receiving a pass from Boyd, Bouanga battled past a defender down to the endline near the left side of the goal area and delivered a cutback pass, which Son calmly finished with a left-footed one-touch shot right in front of the goal.

Son's shot deflected off the goalkeeper's hand, bounced off the crossbar, and dropped just inside the goal line.

Leading 2-1 at halftime, LAFC faced dangerous back-to-back shots from Salt Lake's Lobjanidze and Noel Caliskan early in the second half, but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fended off the threats with crucial saves.

However, LAFC conceded the equalizer once again in the 30th minute of the second half.

Following a blocked clearance, Salt Lake launched an attack where Aidan Hezarkhani fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, which Lloris parried away with a diving save.

Yet, Caliskan slotted home the loose ball with his left foot, leveling the score once more.

LAFC squandered a golden scoring opportunity in the 42nd minute of the second half.

Son darted into space behind the defense, rounded the goalkeeper, and fired a right-footed shot toward the empty net from the right side of the penalty box, only for retreating defender DeAndre Yedlin to rush back and clear it off the line. With this missed chance, LAFC failed to add another goal, and both teams ultimately shared a point.


(Photo: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images, Yonhap News)