Only few players have it - LAFC coach hails Heung Min Son

Son Heung-min has wasted no time making an impression at Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), just two games into his Major League Soccer (MLS) career.

The South Korean star, who joined LAFC earlier this month after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, registered his first MLS assist on Saturday night in a 2-0 win over New England Revolution.

Son set up Mathieu Choiniere’s stoppage-time goal, sealing victory after Marco Delgado had opened the scoring.

Despite only logging a match and a half so far, Son’s presence on the field and off it, has already drawn glowing reviews from teammates and head coach Steve Cherundolo.

“The 120 minutes we’ve seen of Sonny with LAFC have been excellent,” Cherundolo said after the game.

He continued, “He has the intelligence, the experience, and the technical and physical capabilities to combine it all. This is a great foundation to build on, and the more he plays, the better his teammates will understand him.”

Son, who scored 173 goals across all competitions in 10 years at Tottenham and won the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot, was deployed as a central striker, flanked by Denis Bouanga and David Martinez.

Cherundolo explained that Son’s ability to dictate tempo and unlock wingers makes him more valuable through the middle than on the flank.

He added, “He keeps the fluidity of the game going. He makes great runs and is always looking to be an option. Before Sonny, we had ups and downs, but his addition is bringing everything together. He’s that missing piece we’ve been looking for.”

Cherundolo acknowledged the adjustment challenges Son may face in MLS, from extensive travel across time zones to the league’s congested schedule but insisted his mentality will help him thrive.

He added, “He brings a smile to work every day,” the coach said. “With his technical ability, finishing, speed, and experience, he’s an amazing pickup for us. We’re delighted to have him in LA.”

With just two games played, Son has already proven to be a game-changer for LAFC, and fans are eagerly awaiting his first MLS goal.