Son Heung-min will make his second home appearance for LAFC at BMO Stadium on September 21, 2025 at 6 p.m., just days after scoring his first MLS hat trick in a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at America First Field on September 17, 2025.
The 33-year-old forward struck twice in the first half and added a third in the second, while Denis Bouanga also scored late to reach a club-record 94 goals. Son opened the scoring in the 3rd minute after dribbling past three defenders and finishing with his right foot. He doubled the lead in the 16th minute with a curling shot from outside the penalty area, and in the 82nd minute slid in to meet Bouanga’s cross for his third. He celebrated with a forward roll, copying Bouanga’s trademark. According to FotMob, Son registered six shots, four on target, with three goals.
The term “hat trick” itself comes from 19th-century cricket, when a bowler who dismissed three batters with three consecutive deliveries was awarded a hat by his club. The phrase spread across sports, and in soccer it now refers to any player who scores three goals in a single match — a milestone Son reached for the first time in MLS.
The performance drew international praise. The New York Times wrote, “No one can stop him,” while Fox Sports declared, “Away with the shadows of slump, the shining superstar has arrived.” The MLS homepage hailed him as “Son-sational” and a “Korean soccer legend.”
The win moved LAFC to fourth in the Western Conference with 47 points, with five matches remaining. Since joining the club on August 10, 2025, Son has tallied five goals and two assists, and LAFC has not lost a game in which he recorded a goal or assist. Separately, LAFC’s record stands at 13-8-7, while Real Salt Lake is 10-4-5.
Son’s partnership with Bouanga has quickly drawn attention. Two of Son’s three goals were assisted by Bouanga, and Korean fans nicknamed them the “Heung-Bou duo,” a reference to Son’s former “Son-Kane” partnership with Harry Kane at Tottenham. When they played together on September 14, 2025 against San Jose, Bouanga scored a hat trick. Since Son’s arrival, Bouanga has scored six times in six games, with local outlets calling them one of the league’s most dangerous duos.
After the match, Son credited his teammates, saying, “Rather than focusing on my hat trick, I think the defenders deserve more attention for blocking crosses and shots.” He added, “Bouanga and I talk a lot, and he has adjusted to me very well, which creates synergy.” Reflecting on his first MLS hat trick, he said, “I am proud of myself and my teammates for achieving this. I am enjoying every moment, whether scoring or not. I still see myself in the adjustment period, but I believe I can do even better.” About Bouanga, who sealed the game late and reached 94 club goals, Son added, “We are creating synergy together. Congratulations to Bouanga for making history.”
Son’s scoring streak extends beyond the league. He netted against San Jose on September 14, 2025, and also scored in national team friendlies against the United States on September 7 and Mexico on September 10, giving him four consecutive matches with goals in official competitions.
LAFC will face Real Salt Lake again at BMO Stadium on September 21, 2025, marking Son’s second home match since his debut.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
