MLS: Son scores first hat-trick in LAFC win

Son Heung-min scored his first Major League Soccer hat-trick as Los Angeles FC won 4-1 at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

The South Korea forward struck twice in the opening 16 minutes to put LAFC 2-0 up before completing his treble to make it 3-1 in the 82nd minute.

That took the 33-year-old’s tally to five goals in six games for LAFC since ending his 10-year spell with Tottenham to move to the US last month.

“It’s amazing to get my first hat-trick in the MLS,” said Son. “I’m very happy and grateful to everyone.

“Even if I don’t score, I enjoy playing for this club and getting a good result away from home.

“I’m enjoying every single moment, every single training session and every single game.”

Team-mate Denis Bouanga completed the scoring with his 94th goal in all competitions for LAFC, putting him above Mexico forward Carlos Vela as the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Bouanga, who joined from French club St-Etienne in 2022, now has 19 MLS goals this season and is behind only Nashville’s English striker Sam Surridge (21) and Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi (20).

The 30-year-old Gabon forward unselfishly laid the ball off for Son to register LAFC’s second hat-trick in as many games, after Bouanga scored a treble in Saturday’s 4-2 win at the San Jose Earthquakes.

LAFC’s latest win lifted them to fourth in the Western Conference, above the Seattle Sounders, and they have six regular-season games remaining.

Real Salt Lake visit Los Angeles on Sunday, when LAFC will honour the club’s first signing, Vela. The 36-year-old retired from professional football in May and has become LAFC’s first club ambassador.

(BBC Sport)

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