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Photo courtesy of Alpha Biz |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] CHICAGO, August 9 — Son Heung-min made an immediate impact in his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut, winning a crucial penalty that helped Los Angeles FC (LAFC) earn a 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire FC at SeatGeek Stadium.
Making his first appearance since joining LAFC on August 7, the former Tottenham Hotspur star entered the match as a second-half substitute in the 61st minute with the score tied at 1-1. Son was met with a standing ovation not only from traveling LAFC supporters but also from Chicago fans eager to witness the arrival of MLS’s newest star.
Just moments after coming on, Son sprinted into the attacking third during a counterattack and unleashed a mid-range shot that was saved by the goalkeeper — his first on-target attempt in MLS. Although Chicago later took a 2-1 lead through Jonathan Bamba’s powerful strike, Son played a pivotal role in LAFC’s equalizer. Breaking into the box, he drew a foul from a Chicago defender, which was confirmed via VAR review. LAFC’s Denis Bouanga converted the resulting penalty to level the match at 2-2.
Son finished the match with three shots (one on target), nine pass attempts with six completions, and the decisive play that earned LAFC a valuable point on the road.
After a decade-long career with Tottenham, Son completed his move to LAFC earlier this week, telling reporters he wanted to “greet the fans on the pitch as soon as possible.” Just three days later, he delivered a memorable debut performance.
The draw moves LAFC into fifth place in the Western Conference with 37 points. The team will continue its three-game road trip with matches against the New England Revolution on August 17 and FC Dallas on August 24.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
