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| Picture=LAFC official SNS video capture |
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| Son Heung-min's step-over lesson. 1. Stop first in front of the defender. 2. Take the defender's timing by pointing a wrong leg. 3. Shoot. Source = MLS Image Screen |
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| APYonhap News |
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The U.S. media has re-examined Son Heung-min's step-over.
Son Heung-min led Austin FC to a 4-1 victory with one goal and one assist in the second round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff (PO) Western Conference at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on the 3rd (Korea time).
The goal, rated "Fantastic" came in the 21st minute of the first half. Son Heung-min, who received a pass from De Ni Vuanga in the counterattack situation, completely peeled off the opponent's defender with a stepover at the left point inside the penalty box and cut the net with a powerful left-footed shot. The U.S. sports broadcaster 『CBSSports" shared an official MLS video saying 'Son Heung-min's signature stepover', and the MLS secretariat expressed that 'too great Sonny' put 'Filthy goal'. 'Filthy' is mainly used in terms of 'filthy, dirty', etc., but in sports, it means a difficult goal for the opponent to defend against and technically excellent 'difficult goal'.
Stepover, commonly known as 'Hut Leg Pointing', is a technique that tricks defenders with upper body movements, leg movements, eyes, and timing without touching the ball, and Son Heung-min's 'signature' combines instantaneous speed and two-footed shooting ability. This is a skill that even the world's top-level EPL defenders knew and suffered.
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| 사진=Getty Images via AFP-GETTY IMAGE Yonhap News |
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| Son Heung-min beat the defense with his signature step-over technique in the scoring process against Austin on the 3rd. Relay Screen |
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In the final MLS regular league match (2-2) against the Colorado Rappies on the 19th, Son Heung-min scored his 9th goal of the season with the same left-footed shot after peeling off the defense with a nearly similar step-over technique in the 42nd minute of the first half. Fans who watched Son Heung-min score his first career playoff goal "As expected, MLS defense is easy for Son Heung-min." showed a reaction of the back.
The first goal that led LA FC to the quarterfinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs was its 10th goal in 12 games after advancing to the U.S. in August. Son Heung-min, who became the only English Premier League (EPL) player to score double-digit points for Tottenham for nine consecutive seasons from the 2016-2017 season to 2024-2025, has extended his record of double-digit points to 10 consecutive seasons, although the stage is different.
His ability to get both feet, which is considered the best among the top players, is also shining on the U.S. stage. Son has scored six of his 10 goals this season with his right foot and four with his left foot. From 2015 to this year, Son Heung-min has scored a total of 127 goals (333 matches) in the EPL, including 74 goals with his right foot, 49 goals with his left foot and four goals with his header.
Los Angeles manager Steve Cherundolo said after the game, `As a former defender, I think a player like Son Heung-min is hard to stop. What we can do against these players is to make them as uncomfortable as possible. It is best to narrow down the angle and minimize chances of attack, but since Son uses both feet, it is difficult to prevent him from entering the penalty area," he said with his tongue.
Los Angeles captain Hugo Lloris, who was a teammate of Tottenham, also said, `I know Son Heung-min well because I've been training and playing games with him every day for many years. Son Heung-min is a player who has nothing to do with either foot. So I think I also have excellent personal records. Not only inside the stadium but also outside, they are playing a really big role in the team. I can see that he is still full of desire to win, and this stimulates other players as well."
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| Picture=LAFC official SNS video capture |
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Son Heung-min, who opened the scoring in the 25th minute of counterattack, passed the goalkeeper and gave up a pass to Buanga to help him score an additional goal. Los Angeles defeated Austin 4-1 in the 43rd minute, where Dani Pereira recovered one goal in the first half with consecutive goals from Vuanga and Evovise in the second half. Son Heung-min, who stepped down to the bench in the 42nd minute of the second half to arrange his physical strength, jumped up in the situation of Evovise's additional goal and cheered.
Los Angeles, which won 2-1 at home in the first round, won all two games in the first round of the playoffs, which will be held in the best-of-three games, and secured a ticket to the quarterfinals (the semifinals of the Western Conference). Son Heung-min will go on an away trip to Vancouver on the 23rd, after the A-match day, and compete with the Vancouver Whitecaps led by Thomas Muller for the conference finals.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
