Unbelievable! Son Heung-min Scores Twice but Cries Alone... LAFC Eliminated from Playoffs after Missed Penalty

[Financial News] On the 22nd (local time), at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, the 2025 MLS Cup quarterfinals (Western Conference semifinals) took place. Son Heung-min was at the center of this match. With his team trailing 0-2 in the second half, he reignited hope with a determined goal in the 60th minute, just when it seemed all was lost.
Then, in stoppage time, when everyone thought the match was over, he struck a beautiful free kick into the corner of the net, sending the stadium into a frenzy. However, as the first penalty taker in the shootout, Son Heung-min missed his shot, and that single moment overturned the dramatic narrative of the previous 120 minutes.
Son Heung-min's club, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), was eliminated from the playoffs after losing to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a penalty shootout, failing to reach the semifinals.
Vancouver took control early in the match. Although LAFC boasted a strong attacking duo in Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, the connection to deliver the ball to them was lacking. Meanwhile, Vancouver disrupted LAFC’s defense with simple but effective patterns.
In the 39th minute, goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka launched a long kick that found Emmanuel Sabbi, whose lob shot sailed over Hugo Lloris to make it 0-1. In first-half stoppage time, Mathias Laborda added another goal in a scramble following a corner, leaving LAFC down 0-2 at the break.
It was Son Heung-min who changed the momentum. In the 60th minute, Mark Delgado crossed the ball, Andrew Moran headed it down, and Son Heung-min connected with a right-footed volley. His first shot was blocked by Yohei Takaoka, and his second was stopped by a defender. But Son Heung-min persisted, finally slotting home his third attempt from an awkward position.


The atmosphere in the stadium began to shift completely. Vancouver’s Thomas Müller started to struggle with muscle cramps, leading to a breakdown in their organization, and Son Heung-min exploited the gaps.
In stoppage time as the match neared its end, Tristan Blackmon, who was marking Denis Bouanga, received a second yellow card and was sent off. The resulting foul gave Son Heung-min a free kick from the left side of the penalty arc—his favored spot. After a brief pause, he curled the ball with his right foot, sending it into the top left corner of the net. The LAFC bench erupted and rushed toward Son Heung-min.
Extra time unfolded in an unexpected way. With Thomas Müller out and Vancouver having used their final substitution due to a late injury, they were down to nine men in the latter stages. Despite their numerical advantage, LAFC’s attacks lacked decisiveness, as both Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga were exhausted after playing the full match. Vancouver packed nearly all their players inside the penalty box to defend, and the game ultimately went to penalties.

As the team’s ace, the player who scored a brace, and the leader up front, Son Heung-min took the first penalty. His right-footed inside shot was perfectly placed, but unfortunately struck the post. LAFC then missed again with their third kicker, Mark Delgado, falling behind 1-3. Hugo Lloris made a save to keep hope alive, but Vancouver’s final kickers all converted, sealing a dramatic victory for the Whitecaps.
Son Heung-min was the standout player throughout the 120 minutes. He not only forced extra time with his brace but also changed the flow of the second half. Although LAFC was eliminated, Son Heung-min’s presence was felt more strongly than ever. Yet, on this night, he had to face both the joy of scoring and the despair of defeat in a single match.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter