It's a performance that can only be said to be crazy. "'LA Man' Son Heung-min (33, LA FC) burst again.
LA FC won a 3-0 victory against St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri on the 28th (Korea time) with Son Heung-min's multi-goal and Dennis Vuanga's goal in the 2025 U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) away game. LA FC won four consecutive games and remained in fourth place with 53 points. LA FC has already secured seventh place in the Western Conference regardless of the remaining games and has confirmed its advance to the MLS Cup. LA FC has been undefeated in 11 away games, approaching the record of the most undefeated (12 away games) in MLS history set by FC Dallas in 2010.
The main player of the victory was again 'Heungbu Duo'. The Son Heung-min and Buanga duo have scored 12 goals in their last three games. When Buanga scored three goals in the match against San Jose Earthquakes on the 14th, Son Heung-min scored a hat trick in an away match against Real Salt Lake on the 18th. Buanga scored a hat trick again in the home game against Real Salt Lake on the 22nd, making LA FC the team that has produced hat trick scorers for three consecutive games in MLS history.
LA FC, with the strong performance of the Heungbu duo, proudly emerged as a candidate for the championship. MLS recently announced a new power ranking reflecting 34-35 rounds, with LA FC ranking sixth, rising by a notch. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami jumped two notches but was placed seventh, just below LA FC. In a pre-match press conference, David Critchley, who faces the "Heungbu Duo," said, "Of course you have to pay attention to the duo. LA FC has two of the best players in the league. We must stop them in some way."
There was no stopping the exciting 'Heungbu Duo'. The two tasted the goal side by side. He scored all 15 goals recorded by LA FC in four games. Son Heung-min, who scored multiple goals, scored in four consecutive games. Including the A-match, it is the sixth consecutive goal. He scored eight goals in eight games since joining MLS. He is showing off his enormous scoring ability of one goal per game. Buanga also scored his 23rd goal of the season, closely chasing Lionel Messi (24 goals).
Jung Sang-bin, who started on the day, was replaced in 45 minutes without showing any significant performance. Jung Sang-bin left Minnesota for St. Louis in July. In a September A-match friendly training video released on the official YouTube channel of the Korea Football Association, Jung Sang-bin will face Heung-min in late September. He expressed his expectations, saying, "Heung-min is older than Messi to me." However, I had no choice but to admire his senior's performance. The Korean Derby ended with Son Heung-min's decision win.
LA FC took out a 4-3-3 card on the day. With Son Heung-min at the forefront, he used Buanga and Andrew Moran on the left and right sides. On the waistline was a marquee delgado - eddie segura - matiyu choinier. The Four Bag was set up by Artem Smolyakov - Nkosi Tapari - Ryan Porteous - Sergi Palencia. The goal was kept unchanged by Hugo Lloris.
With the start came a dangerous scene. Jung Sang-bin, who received a through pass in the second minute of the first half, collided with Lloris. Jeong Sang-bin was warned. LA FC soon took the lead. Delgado, who received a header pass in the 7th minute, fired a shot. St. Louis' defense blocked him. In the 12th minute, Smolyakov and Moran shot back-to-back from the left, but again, they were caught in the opponent's defense hand-to-hand defense.
LA FC, which gained momentum, scored the first goal. Buanga, who intercepted the opponent's back pass miss in the 15th minute, hit the front of the arc and fired a calm right foot shot. The low ball shook the left side of the net. Buanga's 23rd goal of the season. He closely followed Lionel Messi (24 goals), the top scorer. Vuanga has continued his tremendous scoring streak of eight goals in the last four games.
LA FC, riding the momentum, pushed St. Louis hard. 19 min Delgado's shot hit the post. In the 20th minute, Buanga attempted a powerful right-footed mid-range shot, but the goalkeeper was saved. In the subsequent corner kick situation, Choinier's shot was also blocked by the goalkeeper.
St. Louis fought back. 24 min There was a mix-up in the corner. The ball, which the LA FC defender failed to clear properly, headed to Jung Sang-bin. Jung Sang-bin jumped in and hit a right foot volley shot. It doesn't fit properly and Lloris caught it easily.
LA FC are back on the attack. 25 min A sharp cross from the left connected to Palencia, who was standing alone. Palencia attempted a sensational right-footed shot without delay, but was caught by the goalkeeper's super save. In the 29th minute, Palencia fired a shot from the right side of the box, but it went off the defense. In the 32nd minute, Moran's shot went over the post.
LA FC kept shooting. 35 min Smolyakov's sharp mid-range shot edged over the crossbar. Just before the end of the first half, Son Heung-min burst. Son Heung-min, who could not shoot a single shot, saved a single chance. Son Heung-min, who received a pass from the left, scored with a strong shot in front of the defense in a counterattack. He scored four consecutive goals and his seventh of the season.
The first half ended with a 2-0 lead by LA FC.
Jung Sang-bin was replaced at the start of the second half. The second half was also pushed by LA FC. In the second minute of the second half, Buanga fired a sharp right foot shot. He was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the 8th minute, Son Heung-min penetrated the left side and beat one defense to hit a unique right-footed shot. The ball missed the right crossbar slightly.
15 min Son Heung-min exploded again. After releasing the opponent's pressure, making a forward pass, he reached the front of the goal with an explosive main force. He poked it to Smolyakov, who was digging to the left, and Smolyakov gave it back to Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min shook the St. Louis net with a powerful right-footed shot in front of a defense in the center of the box. It was a goal that the goalkeeper couldn't move at all. his eighth goal of the season.
21 min LA FC had another chance to score. A cross from the right hit the St. Louis defender's hand. The referee wasted no time declaring a penalty. However, on-field review results have changed the decision. St. Louis fought back. Joao Klaus scored in the 31st minute, but he was ruled offside in the process of crossing from the left earlier.
After overcoming the crisis, LA FC went on the offensive again. 33 min Vuanga penetrated the left and attempted a right-footed shot. Slightly off the post. Klaus tried to shoot in extra time for St. Louis, but it didn't hit properly. In the 48th minute, replacement Ryan Hollingshead missed a decisive chance, and LA FC missed a chance to take another step away. Just before the end, LA FC, which blocked St. Louis' sharp shot, wrapped up a 3-0 victory.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
