Son Heung-min Silent for Fifth Straight League Match... LAFC Draw After Opening Four Wins

Son Heung-min failed to score for the fifth consecutive match in the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season. His team, Los Angeles FC (LAFC), also recorded their first draw of the season following four consecutive wins at the start of the campaign.

On March 21 (local time), LAFC played to a 0-0 draw against Austin FC in the 2026 MLS Round 5 away match held at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Son started as the central forward and played the full match but was unable to register any attacking points. He recorded four shots, one key pass, 24 touches, and a pass completion rate of 92.9%. According to football statistics site WhoScored.com, Son received a rating of 6.03, the second lowest among LAFC starters after Denis Bouanga (5.95).

Son Heungmin is contesting the ball with an opposing defender during the 2026 MLS Round 5 away match against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, USA, on the 21st (local time). Photo by AFP News Agency

Son’s shots were repeatedly blocked by the opposing defense.

In the 11th minute of the first half, Son intercepted a misplaced pass in the center and created a chance. After dribbling near the penalty box, he passed to Timothy Tillman, who was making a run on the left. Tillman's left-footed mid-range shot narrowly missed the target.

In the 23rd minute, Son intercepted a poor clearance inside the penalty box and connected with a right-footed shot, but it was blocked by a defender.

In the 33rd minute, during a counterattack, he made a run into the box and attempted a left-footed shot, only to be denied again by the defense. Then, in the 37th minute, he took a direct shot from a free kick earned by Delgado, but the ball sailed well over the crossbar.

In the 8th minute of the second half, his right-footed shot inside the box was also blocked by the defensive wall.

LAFC conceded a goal in the 18th minute of the second half from a corner kick, but following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was disallowed for offside, allowing the team to escape the crisis.

In the 40th minute of the second half, Son missed another crucial opportunity. After intercepting a misplaced pass in the center, he broke into the box with two defenders in pursuit, but as he attempted to shoot, he was tackled and denied a scoring chance.

Ultimately, LAFC finished the match scoreless, bringing their season record to four wins and one draw. Son currently has three assists but no goals in five league matches this season.

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