Soccer <\/p>\n
Son Heung-Min<\/a> couldn\u2019t stop smiling.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After failing to score in 45 shots over his first 13 games of the 2026 MLS regular season, the South Korean superstar netted his first goal on Friday night, helping power LAFC<\/a> to a\u00a03-0 victory<\/a> over rivals LA Galaxy<\/a> in his debut El Tr\u00e1fico appearance and return from the 2026\u00a0FIFA World Cup<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe derby is always really special,\u201d Son said post-match. \u201cI just wanted to be part of it, and I just wanted to win here, and today we did.<\/p>\n “Being back, scoring goals, and winning with a clean sheet, I think, is going to be really helpful for our confidence through the second part of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n After acting as a decoy on a first-half penalty kick for fellow superstar attacker\u00a0Denis Bouanga<\/a>\u00a0to finish, Son had to wait until the 57th minute for his goal. Linking up with Mathieu Choini\u00e8re<\/a> \u2014 who recently represented Canada at the World Cup \u2014 he smashed a long-range shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic<\/a> for his first El Tr\u00e1fico goal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the moments after scoring, the 34-year-old looked up to the heavens and back down at the pitch, with a smile that lasted through the final whistle and his embrace with teammates and staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn our bubble, we’re so together\u2026 we know what we’re doing together, and when you have that togetherness as a team, and as a group, you just feel good for a guy like him who deserves [it],\u00a0 coming back from an emotional World Cup, joining us right away,\u201d said LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very happy Sonny scored because me and him wanted that for him, and yeah, it’s perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Denis + Sonny = AURA. \u270b\ud83d\udca5 pic.twitter.com\/MxSa8K3IOR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Hollywood is known for its stars, and that\u2019s exactly what LAFC brought to the nationally televised rivalry match at a sold-out Dignity Health Sports Park. First, it was a slick turn from another Canadian World Cup veteran,\u00a0Jacob Shaffelburg<\/a>, to set up\u00a0Mark Delgado\u2019<\/a>s 26th-minute opening goal against his former team.\u00a0<\/p>\n Later on, Bouanga extended his record goal-scoring streak against the Galaxy to seven straight games by converting from the spot in first-half stoppage time for his seventh goal of the season.<\/p>\n In the second half, Son snapped his personal scoring drought to bring some light back to his game after South Korea\u2019s disheartening<\/a> World Cup group stage exit.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA derby is always special for the fans, for the club, and I know what it means to win it, and performing like this, especially today as a collective, I think it was fantastic,” said Son. “So we fully deserve three points.<\/p>\n \u201c[Coming back from when] you’re representing the country and having tough results like that, I just wanted to be back as soon as possible because I just love doing what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n LAFC, who had a difficult month in the World Cup lead-up, now have back-to-back clean-sheet wins in MLS play and a victory in one of the fiercest rivalries in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the best rivalry in MLS, and I respect every rivalry. But I’ve been in different places\u2026 but nothing compares,\u201d Dos Santos added. \u201cIt\u2019s a very strong rivalry and very important to win it to start with the win in a game like that because there’s also an emotional toll in games like this, and it was a good answer from the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Now on 27 points and sitting third in the Western Conference, the Black & Gold look towards Wednesday\u2019s clash against Real Salt Lake<\/a> (10:30 p.m. ET | Apple TV<\/a>, FS1, FOX Deportes), with hopes of pushing higher up the table and positioning themselves as MLS Cup contenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI have to reinforce that we have to stay really humble in these moments,\u201d Dos Santos said. \u201cWe have to stay together when the moments are difficult because in MLS\u2026 you have good moments and some moments are difficult, and it’s part of being a strong team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTriumphant return<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Stars show up<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Building momentum<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n