Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points + team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage

Sep 01, 2025

Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage



Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage
"The audience's support was amazing, but I'm so upset. I feel like I've let the fans down."

Son Heung-min (33, LA FC), who left for Major League Soccer (MLS), failed to score an offensive point in his LA home debut. Even the team suffered a come-from-behind loss of one to two. Son Heung-min couldn't hide his disappointment. Those who watched Son Heung-min's play felt the same.

It was an unfortunate game. This is because Son Heung-min's high-level movement continued to go around with the team. Due to the difference in soccer level, Son Heung-min's actual skills were not shown.




Son Heung-min started as a front-line striker in the home game against San Diego FC in the 29th round of the 2025 MLS at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the morning of the 1st (Korea time). On the same day, LA FC coach Steven Cherundolo came out with a 3-4-3 formation. I put Son Heung-min as a one-top striker. Coach Cherundolo has been in charge of the front-line striker since Son Heung-min joined the team. In fact, it gave all the authority to attack the team.

Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage
Son's best position is the left winger. However, it also has the ability to solve it as a one-top. I played this role at Tottenham in the 2023-2024 season. Coach Enze Postecoglou left the vacancy of Harry Kane to Son Heung-min in his first season in charge. Son Heung-min has performed this role brilliantly.

However, LA FC has no choice but to take on the front line striker. This is because he is the best star player in the team and one of the few world class players on the MLS stage. In a way, it may be a natural choice to put the best star and best player in the team as a front-line striker.




However, in actual games, Son Heung-min's one-top striker strategy did not work well. The biggest reason is that there is no effective chance due to the superior skill difference between Son Heung-min and his teammates. On this day, LA FC scored the first goal 15 minutes into the first half. Dennis Buanga received a rear pass and hit a lobbing shot slightly over the head of the goalkeeper running from the center of the penalty area to shake the net. Son Heung-min played a role in confusing defenders by creating space on the side.

However, LA FC's lead did not last long. San Diego's Irving Rosano scored the equalizer in the 33rd minute of the first half. In the 21st minute of the second half, San Diego Drauier drilled the penalty box with a solo dribble and scored the winning goal with a left-footed shot.

Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage
On this day, LA FC's three-back defense was sloppy. Son Heung-min's former team Tottenham was also not a good defense team, but it was different.




The offense also couldn't keep up with Son Heung-min's breathing. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Son Heung-min attempted a unique 'right foot reduction (winding)' shot in front of the penalty area. However, he was unlucky to hit the right post and go out. The scene was created when he tried to solve it on his own because the help of his colleagues rarely came.

In the second half of extra time, a shot from the front of the penalty area flew in front of the goalkeeper, swallowing regret. As a result, Son failed to score goals in two consecutive MLS games.

Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage
Son Heung-min scored his MLS debut goal with a picturesque free kick six minutes into the match against FC Dallas on August 24 after scoring an assist in the match against New England Revolution on the 17th of last month. In just three MLS games, he performed his specialty 'Click Ceremony' in the U.S. Locally, he praised it as a 'World Class Free Kick' that should be hung at the Louvre Museum.

Again, he showed his trademark 'decrease', but he had to swallow his disappointment at the bad luck of the goal. But before that, countless chances disappeared without being connected to Son Heung-min. The soccer level doesn't seem to match well. Soccer statistics company SofaScore gave Son Heung-min a 7.6 rating after delivering two shots on target and two crucial passes. It's the highest score in the team. This means that even if he didn't score a goal, the level difference was superior.

Son Heung-min's home debut match has zero offensive points team upset loss, and it is not easy to adapt to the MLS stage
Son Heung-min couldn't hide his disappointment after the game. He said in a post-match press conference "It was a really special day. The crowd's support was really great. That's why I'm more upset. The fans deserved so much more than one goal todayThe fans really welcomed me, and I really looked forward to this night, too, and I think I let them down"I was disappointed about the upset loss.

Then "I appreciate the hard work of my teammates. As a result, I think I was a little unlucky not to bring a victory"I want to do my best in my role and help the players, but I'm sorry that I didn't play a decisive role." The sense of responsibility during the 'Tottenham Legend' continues as it is. However, if LA FC's teammates fail to support Son's pace, Son Heung-min is likely to continue to struggle.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.