Son Heungmin Makes Decisive Contribution to Winning Goal... Leads LAFC to Victory in Playoff First Leg (Comprehensive)

LAFC Defeats Austin FC 2-1
Second Leg Away Match Set for November 3

Son Heungmin played a decisive role in the winning goal, leading Los Angeles FC to victory in the first leg of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff Round 1 home match. Having wrapped up his European career with a Europa League title in May, Son Heungmin took a smooth first step toward his second professional trophy on the new American stage.

Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC defeated Austin FC 2-1 in the first leg of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff Round 1 at LA BMO Stadium on October 30th (Korean time).

With the score tied at 1-1 in the 79th minute, Son Heungmin dribbled from the center circle to the opponent’s penalty box, delivering a pass that led to the winning goal and played a decisive role in the team’s victory.

Son Heungmin of LAFC competes for the ball with a player from Austin FC during the first leg of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff Round 1 home match at LA BMO Stadium on the 30th (Korean time).
Photo by AFC Yonhap News

Son Heungmin led the LAFC attack alongside Denis Bouanga and Timothy Tillman. Since Son Heungmin joined in August, he and Bouanga have emerged as the best attacking duo in MLS, showing strong chemistry from the outset.

In the 5th minute, Son Heungmin received a long ball from the back, penetrated the opponent’s penalty box while marked by a defender, and connected with Bouanga, who was charging through the center. Bouanga immediately fired a left-footed shot, but the opposing defender blocked it with a diving effort. The deflected ball went out over the goal line, resulting in LAFC’s first corner kick.

LAFC opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Fullback Ryan Hollingshead made a deep run and forced an own goal from the opponent. Hollingshead broke through to the goal line and attempted a cross to the center, and the ball was deflected off a defender’s foot and into the net.

Son Heungmin showed his sharpness in the 35th minute. He received a pass outside the penalty box, entered the box, broke through between two defenders, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot. Unfortunately, it was stopped by a great save from the opposing goalkeeper.

In the 42nd minute, Son Heungmin again threatened the opponent, delivering a pass inside the penalty box that led to another left-footed shot by Bouanga.

Son Heungmin of LAFC competes for the ball with a player from Austin FC during the first leg of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff Round 1 home match at LA BMO Stadium on the 30th (Korean time).
Photo by AFC Yonhap News

LAFC finished the first half up 1-0 but conceded an equalizer to Austin’s Jon Gallagher in the 63rd minute.

Ultimately, Son Heungmin secured the win for LAFC. In the 79th minute, he received the ball at the center circle, carried it near the opponent’s penalty box, and delivered a decisive pass to Bouanga. Bouanga’s shot was deflected off a defender and headed toward the goal. Just before crossing the line, it brushed Nathan Ordaz’s foot and was officially recorded as Ordaz’s goal, but it was essentially Bouanga’s goal created from Son Heungmin’s pass.

Son Heungmin was substituted in the 89th minute, and the match ended with a 2-1 victory for LAFC.

With this win in the first leg against Austin FC, LAFC gained a significant advantage in advancing to the conference semifinals.

The first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs is a best-of-three series. The second leg will be held at Austin FC’s home ground, Q2 Stadium, at 10:45 a.m. on November 3rd.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.