Son Heung-min Makes Instant Impact In Lafc Debut And Hails Mls Welcome

South Korea prima Son Heung-min made his MLS debut for Los Angeles FC connected Saturday, providing a burst of power arsenic a second-half substitute successful a 2-2 tie pinch nan Fire successful Chicago.

Son drew a punishment successful nan 77th infinitesimal that Denis Bouanga converted to clinch nan tie successful nan 81st infinitesimal – VAR confirming nan spot footwear aft nan referee initially fto play continue.

“Obviously it was decidedly interaction and it was decidedly a penalty, I person nary uncertainty astir it,” said Son, who was sent sprawling successful nan area by Carlos Teran aft getting loose connected a breakaway. “And, yeah, we tied nan game, but I deliberation we should person won this game, [so] a small spot disappointed.”

In summation to drafting nan penalty, Son had 3 shots connected extremity – each saved pinch comparative easiness by Fire keeper Chris Brady.

Son signed pinch LAFC connected Wednesday for a reported MLS grounds transportation interest of $26m transportation aft a decade pinch Tottenham successful nan Premier League – wherever he became a family name.

The South Korea skipper had announced conscionable nan erstwhile Saturday successful his homeland that he would beryllium leaving Spurs. He departed arsenic Tottenham’s fifth-highest goalscorer of each clip pinch 173 goals successful 454 appearances.

Son’s first chance to play successful beforehand of location fans successful Los Angeles will travel against Western Conference leaders San Diego connected 31 August. Son’s move is expected to resonate pinch Los Angeles’ sizeable Korean community. The team’s stadium is conscionable southbound of Koreatown.

But plentifulness of his jerseys, South Korean flags and signs welcoming him to MLS were dotted astir nan Fire’s SeatGeek Stadium connected Saturday, and cheers greeted his introduction successful spot of David Martinez successful nan 61st infinitesimal pinch nan teams level astatine 1-1.

“I really enjoyed it. You ne'er had this coming from distant games,” said Son. “I utilized to play successful nan Premier League. When I played astatine distant grounds they were ever booing maine and ever booing nan players. But it was bully to spot group were celebrating, group were enjoying nan football.”

Jonathan Bamba put Chicago up 2-1 successful nan 70th minute. Teran had opened nan scoring successful nan 11th pinch a header disconnected a area kick. Eight minutes later Ryan Hollingshead nodded successful disconnected a area footwear to propulsion LAFC level astatine 1-1.

Son had said astatine his introductory property convention connected Wednesday that he felt fighting fresh and wanted to get connected nan transportation “as soon arsenic possible.” His presence reunites him pinch erstwhile Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris, nan French goalkeeper who said nan South Korean will make a “big impact.”

“It’s awesome for nan league, awesome for nan city, awesome for nan club,” Lloris said.