Son Heung-Min scored his first home goal for LAFC on September 21 at BMO Stadium, leading a 4–1 victory over Real Salt Lake (RSL) in Major League Soccer (MLS). His finish came alongside a hat trick from Denis Bouanga, sealing LAFC’s place in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Hours before kickoff, the stadium was already buzzing. By 3 p.m., three hours before the match, fans packed the plaza, echoing the excitement of August 31, when Son first appeared at home in an LAFC kit. Tailgate traditions filled the lawn, with the Tiger Supporters Group (TSG)—a Koreatown-based fan club—setting up a booth beneath a hanok-style tent.
Josh Lee, TSG’s communications director, said about 100 members attended, 30 to 40 more than the previous home game. “After Son’s hat trick against RSL on September 17, we hoped he would score his first home goal today,” he said.
Before the match, a Fan Fest featured a Nanta (Korean percussion) performance, traditional Mexican dance, soccer games, and food like churros and hot dogs. The celebration also honored Carlos Vela, who retired in May and became LAFC’s first ambassador.
Taejoo Ko, a Los Angeles resident, said, “I came to support Son Heung-Min, and it’s surprising how much there is to enjoy even before the game. This kind of culture is something you don’t see at other soccer matches.”
The team store was filled with Korean fans buying jerseys and merchandise, including 36 visitors from Korea led by commentator Moon-Sung Park and subscribers to his YouTube channel Dalsune Live. Moon-Sung Park told The Korea Daily, “It’s common to go to Europe from Korea to watch soccer, but coming to the U.S. is purely because of Son Heung-Min. His performances in MLS have been incredible.” He added, “A Premier League Golden Boot winner, Son is showing a clear difference in class in the U.S. Even though changing leagues and environments usually requires an adjustment period, he settled in quickly without one.”
The night also brought together two Korean sports stars for the first time: Son Heung-Min and Hye-Sung Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their meeting drew loud cheers. “I’ve lived in LA for five years and this is my first visit to BMO Stadium,” said Jung-Min Kim. “It was great to see Son play and to witness two Korean stars together.”
Inside the stadium, the north-end supporters’ section 3252 showed more Korean flags than before. Korean fans joined Hispanic supporters to experience the group’s atmosphere firsthand.
On the field, Son finished with one goal and one assist, while Bouanga’s hat trick delivered history. LAFC became the first team in MLS history to record hat tricks in three consecutive games, and Bouanga became the first player in league history to score at least 20 goals in three straight seasons.
After the match, Son praised his teammate: “Scoring 20 goals in one season is already a big record, but doing it three times in a row is a real achievement. Denis Bouanga always works hard and is dedicated to the team.”
In response to a question from The Korea Daily about the rest of the regular season, he added, “Making the playoffs is not the end. It’s important to keep pushing up the rankings and maintain strong performances to carry positive momentum.”
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
![United States President Donald J Trump signs a series of executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 9. [CHRIS KLEPONIS/YONHAP]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/0410-Trump-100x70.jpg "Trump H-1B realignment cleans up the lottery, not a ban")
