Home Football MLSSon Heung-min nets first MLS hat-trick as LAFC defeat Real Salt Lake 4-1

Son Heung-min nets first MLS hat-trick as LAFC defeat Real Salt Lake 4-1

Sep 17, 2025 11:32 PM GMT+00:00

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Son Heung-min nets first MLS hat-trick as LAFC defeat Real Salt Lake 4-1

South Korea’s Son Heung-min wasted no time in making history in Major League Soccer, scoring his first-ever hat-trick to power Los Angeles FC (LAFC) to a commanding 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night in Utah.

The former Tottenham Hotspur captain, who joined LAFC in August for a reported MLS record fee of $26 million (£20m), showed why he remains one of the most lethal forwards in world football. With two first-half goals and another in the second half, Son confirmed his arrival as MLS’s newest superstar.

From Premier League Golden Boot to MLS Star

After ten years at Spurs, where he won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022, Son has settled quickly into life in America. His hat-trick takes his tally to five goals in six MLS appearances, immediately putting him among the league’s most in-form players.

Alongside him, Denis Bouanga added LAFC’s fourth goal, making history as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 94 goals across all competitions, surpassing Carlos Vela. The win lifted LAFC to fourth place in the Western Conference, two points clear of the Seattle Sounders.

A Lightning Start in Utah

Real Salt Lake nearly struck first in the opening moments when Diego Luna broke free in the box, but his effort rolled wide of the post. That miss proved costly. Just a minute later, Son capitalized. After Timothy Tillman intercepted possession in midfield, he slipped a quick pass to Son, who surged into the penalty area and fired past goalkeeper Rafael to open the scoring.

Son doubled the advantage in the 14th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box, drilling the ball through defenders and beyond Rafael’s desperate dive.

Lloris Reunion and Key Saves

In goal, Hugo Lloris; Son’s former Tottenham teammate, played a pivotal role in keeping Real Salt Lake at bay, making several crucial first-half saves to preserve LAFC’s 2-0 lead at halftime.

The hosts were handed a lifeline in the 56th minute when they won a penalty. But Rwan Cruz’s effort smashed against the post, letting LAFC off the hook.

Son completes his Hat-Trick

Real Salt Lake finally found the net in the 76th minute through Xavier Gozo, raising hopes of a comeback. Those hopes were quickly extinguished. Just minutes later, Son completed his hat-trick, finishing calmly from a Bouanga assist after a rapid counter-attack.

Bouanga then sealed the night’s drama in the 88th minute, slotting home after David Martinez picked him out in transition, his 94th goal for LAFC, a new club record.

A New Era for LAFC

For LAFC, the night was more than just three points. It showcased the club’s ability to blend star power, experience, and attacking flair. Son’s seamless adaptation to MLS adds firepower to a squad already boasting Bouanga, while the presence of veteran goalkeeper Lloris brings balance and leadership.

With five goals in six matches, Son has immediately announced himself as one of the players to watch this season, while LAFC’s charge up the table looks increasingly dangerous for rivals.

Key Takeaways

Son Heung-min scored his first MLS hat-trick, bringing his tally to 5 goals in 6 matches.
Denis Bouanga became LAFC’s all-time leading scorer with 94 goals.
Hugo Lloris played a key role with multiple first-half saves.
LAFC climbed to fourth in the Western Conference, two points ahead of Seattle Sounders.