"Just Wait, Messi!" Son Heung-min Explodes for His 12th Assist as Team Suffers a 1-3 Rout to the Last-Place Side
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- 2026-09-13 15:00:00
- Updated
- 2026-09-13 15:00:00
[Financial News] Son Heung-min, who plays for Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), recorded his 12th assist of the season to move within one of soccer's "god," Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF. However, LAFC suffered a shocking defeat to the league's last-place team and left the field dejected.
Son Heung-min started and played all 90 minutes in the 2026 MLS Round 26 away match against Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on the 13th Korean time.
With his team trailing 0-2 and facing likely defeat, Son played a perfect role in setting up the equalizer in the second minute of the second half. He delivered a precise pass into space on the left flank, and Jacob Shaffelburg received it before sending a low cross into the box. Charging forward, Denis Bouanga finished with his right foot to find the back of the net. Under MLS rules, Son was credited with an "indirect assist" for his involvement in the goal.
With his 12th assist in the regular season, Son jumped into a tie for second in the league's assist standings behind Lionel Messi, who has 13. By narrowing the gap to the leader to just one, he set the stage for a fierce race for the assist title. Son has recorded five goals and 12 assists in the regular season, along with two goals and seven assists in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, giving him seven goals and 19 assists in all official competitions this season. He also remained active, attempting three shots.
Despite the ace's performance, LAFC's defense collapsed. It conceded the opening goal to Andre Luiz in the 18th minute of the first half, then allowed Taylor Calheira to add a headed goal in the 31st, leaving the team helplessly chasing the game.
Son helped keep LAFC's comeback hopes alive by setting up Bouanga's goal to make it 1-2, but the team conceded a painful clinching goal to Jacob Bartlett in the 26th minute of the second half and ultimately suffered a 1-3 rout.
LAFC, stunned by Kansas City, which had been a dominant last-place team among the 15 clubs in the Western Conference with 18 points, failed to rebound and remained fifth in the Western Conference with 40 points.
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