It didn’t take long for LAFC’s record-breaking new signing, Son Heung-Min, to make his presence felt in Major League Soccer. Just three days after being introduced in Los Angeles, the South Korean superstar stepped onto the pitch in Chicago and immediately injected energy, creativity, and danger into a tense 2-2 draw against the Fire.
The drama began before kickoff. LAFC announced at 10:08 p.m. local time the night before that Son had traveled and was eligible to play—a surprise that sent ticket demand surging. By the time the teams walked out at SeatGeek Stadium, the 19,831-seat venue was sold out, dotted with Korean flags, Tottenham Hotspur shirts, and LAFC jerseys freshly purchased for the occasion.
Son entered the match in the 61st minute to a “sizable ovation,” despite the game being played hundreds of miles from Los Angeles. For the Premier League veteran, this welcome was a stark departure from the hostility often faced on the road in England.
Son Heung-Min Makes Electric MLS Debut for LAFC, Draws Penalty in 2-2 Thriller
“I really enjoyed it,” Son said afterward. “I’ve never had this welcoming at an away game. When I played in the Premier League, they were always booing me and the players. It was nice to see people celebrating and enjoying the football.”
The match itself offered plenty of twists. Chicago opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Carlos Terán’s header, only for Ryan Hollingshead to level eight minutes later. The Fire regained the lead in the 70th minute via Jonathan Bamba, setting the stage for Son’s defining moment.
In the 77th minute, the 33-year-old broke free on a counterattack and was brought down in the box by Terán. The referee initially waved play on, but VAR confirmed the foul. “Obviously it was definitely contact and it was definitely a penalty, I have no doubt about it,” Son said. Denis Bouanga converted from the spot in the 81st minute to secure the draw.
Beyond the penalty, Son registered three shots on goal, all stopped by Fire keeper Chris Brady. He nearly produced a dream-winning moment in stoppage time, racing in on goal before Chicago’s Jonathan Dean slid in to block his shot.
“His following is worldwide, and there’s a reason for it; he’s phenomenal,” Hollingshead said. “You saw him come in for 20, 30 minutes and change the game for us.”
The $26.5 million transfer from Tottenham—the largest fee in MLS history—was more than just a headline-making deal. It reunited Son with former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris, who believes the forward’s arrival will have a transformative effect. “It’s great for the league, great for the city, great for the club,” Lloris said.
With 11 regular-season matches remaining, LAFC hope Son can provide the clinical edge they’ve lacked at times this year. Head coach Steve Cherundolo put it simply: “Taking our chances has been an area we’ve been struggling with all season, and bringing Sonny is going to help alleviate that.”
Son’s home debut is set for September 1 against San Diego. If his Chicago cameo is any indication, the Son Heung-Min era in MLS promises fireworks.