Los angeles: After netting his first five goals for Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) away from home, South Korean superstar Son Heung-min finally got one in front of his adoring fans at home. Son scored the go-ahead goal late in the first half to lift LAFC over Real Salt Lake 4-1 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time). Son now has six goals in seven matches in Major League Soccer (MLS).
According to Yonhap News Agency, even for someone who has scored so many goals over the years, this one felt extra sweet for Son. "Scoring goals away from home or at home is an honor, but obviously, when you score at home in front of a packed stadium, it makes it very special," Son said at the postmatch press conference. "I am glad I scored in my second home game and also won the game, because the first game was not ideal. We wanted to win the game, but we lost. Today was a fantastic evening."
LAFC went down 1-0 early before rallying with four unanswered goals, and Son credited the nearly 23,000 LAFC faithful at BMO Stadium for carrying the club to the win. "When we were 1-0 down, we needed big support from behind us, and I think they did a fantastic job," Son said. "Afterwards, our performance and our energy really went up. Scoring goals in front of a packed stadium is a joy, I would say."
As for having Korean fans in Los Angeles, Son said their display of love and support has far surpassed his expectations. "I am a very lucky guy, having this amazing support behind me," he added. "I always want to give something back with a trophy."
Son's partner up front, Denis Bouanga, was the offensive star of the match, as he netted his second hat trick in three games. He also became the first player in MLS history to top 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. Son, a former Premier League Golden Boot winner, marveled at Bouanga's work ethic and dedication to his craft.
"In Europe, it also is extremely hard to find someone who scores 20 goals three seasons in a row," Son said. "Having him on our team is huge. I think he is one of the high, high-quality players. Credit to Denis because he works hard to help the team and score a lot of goals. It's not random. It's not lucky. He works really hard to be always in the position to score goals, and you should appreciate that."
On his budding chemistry with Bouanga, Son said, "When I play with someone like Denis, I don't feel like I have to do too much." "I have to quickly catch on to plays that he likes to make, and I have to think about how to help him make those plays more," Son continued. "We've been talking to each other quite a bit, and we've been able to figure out what each other wants. He would be great in Europe, too, but he's doing so well here, and he's been a massive help for our club. I am thankful for that, and I want to keep showing great partnership with him."
LAFC clinched a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs the day before this victory, and Son said LAFC won't settle for just getting into the tournament. "Our season isn't over. We have to maintain our good momentum and keep pushing to reach a higher place," Son said. "We as players have to stay healthy and stay in good form entering the playoffs."