 |
| MLS SNS |
|
 |
| MLS 홈페이지 |
|
'Bouanga and Son Heung-min rekindled their hopes for the LA FC Championship.' This is the evaluation of Major League Soccer (MLS).
MLS unveiled a new power ranking reflecting 34-35 rounds on the 24th (Lee Han-han Korean time). LA FC rose as much as four spots to rank sixth. Son Heung-min and Dennis Buanga led the way.
MLS has scored 14 goals in its last five games. Who scored all 14 goals? Buanga and Son Heung-min had no problem coexisting at all.'" Son scored a hat trick in the first of two consecutive games against Real Salt Lake, and Buanga added one goal in the 4-1 win. Buanga then scored a hat-trick in the weekend rematch, and Son added another goal in the 4-1 win again, he explained.
And with 22 goals, Buanga is currently tied for first place in the Golden Boot (scoring king) category with Lionel Messi (Inter Miami). He also surpassed Carlos Vela as the highest scorer (97 goals) in the club's history. In addition, he became the first player in MLS history to score more than 20 goals in three consecutive seasons. LA FC recently won three consecutive games and scored four goals in all.
MLS says it will be difficult to catch up with Vancouver or San Diego, which are fighting for the first and second place in the Western Conference unless something special happens. However, it has virtually confirmed its entry into the fourth place, and now the third place is also on the horizon.
Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, San Diego FC, and Charlotte FC were ranked second to fourth, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC ranking first. Messi's Inter Miami jumped two spots, but was placed seventh, just below LA FC. New York City FC, Orlando City, and Minnesota United FC ranked 8th to 10th.
LA FC has changed before and after Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min nestled at LA FC last month. He has scored six goals and two assists in seven MLS games, including five goals and one assist in the last three games.
When Son Heung-min was flying, the bouanga exploded. Buanga has scored as many as eight goals in four games, including seven in the last three games. Thanks to Son Heung-min, he showed off his amazing determination by scoring 20 goals (20 goals in 2023 and 20 goals in 2024, 22 goals in 2025) in the first three consecutive seasons of MLS history. LA FC became the first MLS player to achieve a hat trick in three consecutive games.
MLS determines the league's winning team through the postseason. LA FC has confirmed its early entry into the playoffs (PO). MLS will play the MLS Cup PO with eight teams participating in each of the Eastern and Western conferences after playing until the 34th round of the regular league. In the Eastern and Western conferences, up to the 7th place will get direct PO tickets, while the 8th to 9th places will get the remaining 1 PO ticket through the PO wild card round.
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
 |
| AFP Yonhap News |
|
In the first round of PO, 1st-8th (or 9th), 2nd-7th, 3rd-6th, and 4th-5th will compete to determine the semifinal and final teams. Son Heung-min, who enjoyed his first win since his professional debut when he reached the top of the Europa League in May, had the opportunity to lift the regular league champion's hahn for the first time in MLS.
Son Heung-min said, `When I play against Buanga, I don't feel like I have to do much. I think about catching this player's favorite play quickly, and helping him spread his favorite play more. I think the synergy effect is better because we talk a lot about these parts and play catch each other on the field. "He's a capable player. He is also a good player in Europe. I'm doing well here right now, and I'm grateful for being a big driver of the team, and I want to show better chemistry in the future"I laughed.
Buanga said "It's very easy to breathe with Son Heung-min. It's too easy to play with him now, as I've seen him in Europe. It's so natural that there's nothing to explain. I'm sure you've already seen it, I'm still seeing it, and you'll see it until the end of the season."
'Heungbu Association' has established itself as a major player in MLS beyond Messi.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
