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| 사진=AP-FR159296 AP Yonhap News |
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There was a reason why they invested $10.368,750. Son Heung-min (LAFC) played the role of an ace.
LA FC beat Austin 2-1 in the first round of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup Playoff (PO) Western Conference at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (LA) on the 30th (Korea time). In MLS, following the regular league, eight teams from each of the East-West Conference will reach the round of 16 and play PO to determine the champion. The first round has two wins out of three. The quarterfinals and semi-finals (conference finals) and championship games are all single-round matches. LA FC (60 points), ranked third in the regular league, gained momentum by winning its first PO match against sixth-ranked Austin (47 points). He will play the away game in the second round on November 3.
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| 사진=AP-FR159296 AP Yonhap News |
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Son Heung-min started on the day. At the same time as kick-off, he received intensive checks from his opponent. He played the game calmly. LA FC laughed thanks to the opponent's own goal in the 20th minute of the first half. Ryan Hollingshead dug deep into the left side of the penalty area and the ball hit the foot of Austin defender Brendan Hines-Ike, who was trying to break the cross he sent. After breaking through the right side in the 36th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min escaped between four opposing players and fired a left-footed shot. However, he was blocked by Austin's goalkeeper. Son Heung-min dribbled from behind the half-line in the 43rd minute of the first half and passed the pass to Dnie Vuanga, who went left inside the penalty area. Stuber again hit Buanga's strong right footed shot.
LA FC, which could not escape, gave up an equalizer in the 18th minute of the second half. The LAFC defense couldn't completely clear the ball in a mixed situation. John Gallagher, who received Owen Wolff's pass, opened the goal with his left foot. At the moment of the crisis, Son Heung-min's toes flashed once again. In the 34th minute of the second half, he opened the way with a breakthrough that penetrated the center with defense and sent a pass. Buanga's shot on the left side of the penalty area was slightly deflected by the body of the defense and headed toward the net. On top of that, Nathan Ordas put his foot on it just before the goal line and scored the winning goal. Son Heung-min, who took the lead, asked his teammates to "focus" on them. He was replaced by Jeremy Evovish in extra time in the second half when the team was in the lead.
After the game, Son Heung-min was selected as the MLS' most valuable player 'Player of the Match'. MLS also left an evaluation on its official account that 'always leave an impact'. Foot mob, which specializes in soccer statistics, gave Son an 8.1 rating, the highest between the two teams.
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| 사진=Getty Images via AFP-GETTY IMAGE Yonhap News |
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| 사진=IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Yonhap News |
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Prior to the game, the MLS Players Association announced its 2025 salary guide. Son is known to receive a basic salary of $10.368,750 dollars. This is the highest annual salary after Lionel Messi (Inter Miami). Messi, the first-ranked player, will receive a basic salary of 12 million dollars. In this data, only Messi and Son Heung-min had more than $10 million in basic salary.
As of Oct. 1, the MLS Players Association announced the players' annual base salary and 'average guaranteed remuneration'. The average annual guaranteed remuneration is the sum of the basic salary, down payment converted on a yearly basis, and marketing bonuses. Bonuses for players' performance have not been included because it has not yet been confirmed whether they will be achieved. In terms of annual average guaranteed pay, Son ranked second after Messi (20446,667 dollars) with 11,152,852 dollars. LA FC's total expenditure is just over $30 million, which means Son Heung-min accounts for about a third.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
