'One Shot, One Kill' Son Heung-min Scores First MLS Hat-Trick, Drives LAFC's Winning Streak (Comprehensive)

Scores in Consecutive Games... LAFC Secures 4-1 Victory Over Real Salt Lake

Son Heung-min Scores First Multi-Goal Game in MLS [AFP=Yonhap News]

Son Heung-min (LAFC) exploded for his first hat-trick in Major League Soccer (MLS) since his debut and scored in two consecutive games, leading his team to their first winning streak since joining.

On the 18th (Korean time), Son Heung-min scored the opening goal just three minutes into the away match against Real Salt Lake in the 2025 MLS regular season at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.

Timothy Tillman of Los Angeles (LA)FC stole the ball near the half-line and passed it to Son Heung-min, who was surging down the left flank. Son Heung-min drove the ball into the left penalty area and slotted it into the far corner with an accurate right-footed shot, evading the goalkeeper.

This was Son Heung-min's 3rd goal in MLS.

Having scored against the San Jose Earthquakes on the 14th, Son Heung-min found the back of the net for the second game in a row.

Son Heung-min Receives Congratulations from Teammates [AFP=Yonhap News]

In the 16th minute of the first half, he achieved his first multi-goal game since his MLS debut.

Receiving a pass from Ryan Hollingshead, Son Heung-min collected the ball just outside the penalty arc and fired a sharp right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal, marking his 4th MLS goal.

LAFC, leading 2-1, completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute of the second half.

LAFC initiated a counter-attack from behind the half-line, with Denis Bouanga on the right flank and Son Heung-min on the left making simultaneous runs ahead of the opposing defenders.

Bouanga, driving the ball into the right penalty area, didn't hesitate and passed it to Son Heung-min, who was rushing towards the left. Son Heung-min, in front of the goal, slid and stretched out his left leg to push the ball in, scoring his third goal of the game and his 5th MLS goal.

Thanks to Son Heung-min's hat-trick, LAFC defeated Salt Lake 4-1, extending their winning streak.

With five regular season games remaining in MLS, LAFC has accumulated 47 points from 28 games, placing them 4th in the Western Conference.

They have a comfortable 12-point lead over 9th-placed San Jose (35 points), who are on the playoff fringe.

LAFC achieved their first winning streak since Son Heung-min joined, recording 3 wins (2 draws, 1 loss) in 6 games.

Furthermore, LAFC showcased impressive scoring prowess by netting four goals in two consecutive matches.

Son Heung-min [AFP=Yonhap News]

Son Heung-min, who started as the lone striker in this match, displayed his clinical finishing ability from the start, scoring multiple goals early on and showing agile movement throughout the game.

In the 26th minute of the first half, Bouanga delivered a cut-back from the right penalty area, and Son Heung-min, who had made a run into the penalty area in front of the goal, attempted a first-time right-footed shot, but it was blocked by the defense, preventing a goal.

Just before halftime, Son Heung-min was seen entering the locker room with a grimace, holding his chin after being struck in the left side of his face during a collision with an opponent.

Continuing to play in the second half, Son Heung-min aimed for an additional goal in the 12th minute of the second half with a low-driven left-footed shot from near the penalty arc, but the ball struck the left post, resulting in disappointment.

In the 18th minute of the second half, he unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from the right penalty area, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.

LAFC conceded a consolation goal in the 31st minute of the second half to Xavier Gozzo, born in 2007, with an overhead kick from in front of the goal, but Son Heung-min's hat-trick six minutes later definitively sealed the victory.

Having fulfilled his role, Son Heung-min was substituted in the 41st minute of the second half for David Martinez and came off the field.

In the 43rd minute of the second half, Bouanga also scored, putting the finishing touches on LAFC's dominant 4-1 victory. Yonhap News