Son Heung-min ended a lengthy goal drought as LAFC secured a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Friday night at Dignity Health Sports Park, marking the first match back following the World Cup international break. The win improved LAFC’s record to 8-5-3 and evened the all-time series against the Galaxy at 10-10-7. The Galaxy, who entered the match unbeaten in their previous three encounters with LAFC, fell to 5-6-5.
Mark Delgado opened the scoring for LAFC in the 26th minute. After his initial header was blocked, the ball returned to him, allowing a clean shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic. Denis Bouanga then extended the lead in first-half stoppage time with a penalty kick. Despite Micovic’s effort to block it, Bouanga converted successfully, continuing his remarkable run against the Galaxy. Bouanga has now scored 11 goals in 10 matches against LAFC’s city rivals across all competitions, maintaining a scoring streak that spans the last seven meetings—the longest in the rivalry’s history.
Son Heung-min added the third goal in the 57th minute, finishing a slick exchange with Delgado. This marked Son’s first goal of the season for LAFC after a 13-match stretch without scoring. Son’s scoring drought had become a notable storyline following his prolific start with the team, in which he notched nine goals in his first 10 regular-season appearances. Prior to Friday, he had recorded nine assists but no goals this season, enduring 44 shots without a finish and going 237 days since his last goal. His recent struggles were compounded by South Korea’s early exit from the World Cup, where the team failed to advance beyond the group stage despite high expectations for their “golden generation” led by Son. The premature elimination prompted widespread disappointment in South Korea, including calls for an official investigation.
Despite the World Cup setback, Son appeared determined and focused during the match against the Galaxy. He was active in the early minutes, launching two shots that were blocked by defenders. When a penalty opportunity arose just before halftime, he opted to defer the kick to Bouanga, who scored. In the second half, Son and Delgado combined effectively before Son finished with his first goal since joining LAFC.
LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos provided Son with 10 days off following the World Cup but noted the forward’s eagerness to return to the club, highlighting the positive atmosphere within the team. Teammate Delgado praised Son’s perseverance and work ethic, emphasizing the importance of his first goal in restoring confidence. “He deserves it, coming back from an emotional World Cup, and joining us right away,” Dos Santos said.
Looking ahead, Son expressed optimism about building on this breakthrough. “Scoring the first goal of this season, I think it will help me,” he said. He also set his sights on continuing his scoring form in the upcoming match against Real Salt Lake. The victory and Son’s goal provided a boost for LAFC as they look to maintain momentum in the second half of the MLS season.